Stable staff now earning €10.75 per hour

THE Irish Stablestaff Association is reminding its members that a new pay agreement with trainers came into force on January 1st.

Staff should now be paid a minimum of €10.75 per hour, up from €9.75 previously. Expenses for a day’s racing have risen from €40 to €50 and expenses for an evening meeting are now €60 from €50. Any trainer licenced by the Turf Club is prohibited from paying less favourable terms.

Bernard Caldwell, ISA chairman, said: “Soon we will be announcing details of our new pension scheme. Staff should check with their trainers that they have been registered. If they are not then they should contact the ISA urgently. We hope to have the scheme up and running by March.”

Caldwell pointed out that all Dundalk Stadium fixtures between now and February 10th will end at the earlier time of 8.30pm.