Cillian Murphy supports Vita Cortex workers

Hollywood actor Cillian Murphy has written to the former Vita Cortex employees in his native Cork City expressing his support for their sit-in.

The Ballintemple native said that as a “fellow Corkonian with stubborn tendencies” he saluted the workers’ refusal to accept what he said was an obvious injustice, adding, “I wish ye strength”.

“For whatever it’s worth, I really just wanted to pass on my admiration to you all for the courage and commitment you are displaying in your sit-in,” he wrote. “To everyone following this situation from the outside it is more than clear that you have right on your side and that what you are highlighting is hugely important to us all as a nation.”

He signed off the message with “Fair play to ye all ... Up Cork, Cillian.”

The workers’ sit-in is due to enter its 11th week. They lost their jobs when the plant shut down on Dec 16 and have been occupying the building since in pursuit of the same 2.9 weeks per year of service redundancy package which they say the company paid to previous employees.

The State is covering the two weeks’ statutory payment. The workers say company owner Jack Ronan must pay what they claim was the agreed balance, 0.9 week per year of service.

Next week singer John Spillane has agreed to perform at a candlelit vigil at the factory organised by family and friends of the Vita Cortex workers.

Members of the public are invited to “stand in solidarity” with the workers at 7.30pm on Mar 2.