Equality Officer Gerardine Coyle found that five women employed by Schering Plough (Bray) Limited were not entitled to equal pay with four male Process Operators. The recommendation was dated 6 January 2000.
SIPTU argued that Pauline Doyle, Elaine Cromwell, Liz Layton, Elaine Crawford and Catherine Coughlan, who worked as Filling Operators in the sterile area, performed like work to the men. The company disputed this. The women earned £210.17 a week plus a £14 gowning allowance, while Philip Byrne, Steven Hayden, Warren Neill and Martin Reilly earned £282.32 a week.
Coyle found the jobs were not interchangeable or similar in nature. The men’s work required greater skill, physical and mental effort, and responsibility, although some working conditions were more demanding for the women and others were equal. She concluded that the women did not perform like work and were not entitled to the same remuneration. As a result, she did not consider the company’s argument that the pay difference was justified on grounds other than sex.