Strike ends at Musgrave

A strike by 100 workers at one of Europe’s largest retailers was called off last night following talks between Siptu and the company’s management.

Workers at Musgrave Cork Chill warehouse went on strike on Apr 18 following a dispute involving promised wage increases, issues with rostering and the introduction of voice technology. Siptu had 135 members working at the plant, but not all of them went out on the picket line.

Karan O’Loughlin, the union official who deals with the wholesale, retail and distribution sections, said striking workers had taken a ballot yesterday evening and voted to return to work tomorrow. She said the union had held meetings with the company on Thursday and again yesterday where “they had worked out a formula acceptable to both parties”.

At the time the workers issued strike notice a spokeswoman for the giant retailer, which supplies SuperValu and Centra supermarkets, said Musgrave was committed to implementing voice technology in accordance with Labour Court recommendations.

On Apr 11, the day the company started training its employees to use voice technology, Siptu issued strike notice which it later enacted.

According to the company, voice technology had already been implemented at Musgrave’s three other depots in agreement with employees and their union representatives.

The Musgrave spokes-woman said last night the company “had clarified certain aspects of the Labour Court recommendation and the return to work was based in the implementation of this recommendation.”