Tayto workers reject redundancy deal
The crisps and snacks factory is to close in October with the loss of 98 jobs after operating in Coolock, North Dublin for more than 40 years.
Workers in advertising, sales, and product development are being kept on.
The Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) said workers rejected the deal by a 60% majority.
Regional secretary Arthur Hall said: “Our members feel the redundancy package was a ‘yellow pack’ offer and it is notably worse than most redundancy deals in the food, drinks and tobacco sector.”
He said the deal should be no surprise because the owner of Tayto, Cantrell and Cochrane (C&C), was headed by Maurice Pratt, who introduced the public to yellow packs in a previous incarnation.
He was the public face of the Quinnsworth supermarket chain which sold cheap own-brand products in yellow packs in the 1980s.
Although C&C have offered six-and-a-half week’s pay per year of service, the redundancy payment has been capped at €125,000.
This would have affected workers with more than 25 years service, who could have received payouts of up to €300,000.
Mr Hall said that during five weeks of negotiations, the company had rejected alternative offers, such as lower payouts to younger workers, allowing for a more generous settlement with long-serving staff.
“We put a number of scenarios to them to try and get something in the package for everybody but they were very intransigent, they refused to move,” he said.
He added that the company should come up with an improved offer rather than prolonging workers’ agony by referring the case to the Labour Court.
C&C said that, in line with normal procedures, the matter has been jointly referred to the Labour Court for investigation, and the company and unions have requested an early court hearing.
As the case is still “in procedure” the company said it will make any further statement on the matter.
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