Dairygold dispute must be ‘handled sensitively’

A SERIOUS situation will develop unless the dispute between workers and management in Dairygold Co-op is handled sensitively, Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte warned at the weekend.

The co-op, which currently employs 2,500 people, following 500 redundancies before Christmas, is facing the prospect of industrial action by SIPTU members up to and including a strike.

Members, who voted four to one for the action, accused the company of violating existing industrial relations agreements a claim refuted by the co-op.