Dairygold clashes with SIPTU as 24hr strike looms

DAIRYGOLD, the food processing giant, and SIPTU, the country's largest union, were on collision course last night as a 24-hour strike loomed at the €1 billion turnover co-op over work practices and procedural agreements.

The co-op said it was surprised and disappointed at what it claimed was the entirely unwarranted, provocative and wholly irresponsible strike action scheduled by SIPTU to impact all areas of the co-op's business on Tuesday next.

But a spokesperson for SIPTU said it was disingenuous to level such an accusation at the union when the company itself had tried to introduce work practices which had not been finalised through negotiations.

The clash came as Dairygold announced that yoghurt production is to cease at its CMP plant in Cork city with the loss of 18 jobs.

SIPTU members voted overwhelmingly last month in favour of industrial strike action after accusing Dairygold of violating existing labour relations procedural agreements.

The claim was refuted by the co-op, which currently employs 2,500 people following 500 redundancies before Christmas as part of a major restructuring programme.

Notice of industrial strike action, served on the company by SIPTU almost two weeks ago, expires on Monday.

Meanwhile, plans are going ahead for a Labour Court hearing in Cork next Thursday on Dairygold's selection criteria for compulsory redundancy, its existing labour relations procedural agreement and loss of earnings by employees as a result of changed work practices.

A Dairygold spokesperson said it was particularly disturbing that SIPTU had orchestrated a plan for strike action next Tuesday, a mere 48 hours ahead of a rescheduled Labour Court hearing.

The co-op called on SIPTU to call off the threatened strike.