Sugar plant’s pay dispute still unresolved

A DISPUTE over redundancy payments for many of the former Greencore Sugar workers in Mallow remains unresolved nearly two months after the closure of the factory.

Some 85 full-time and 65 part-time former employees maintain they are still each owed large sums of money by the company.

Workers maintain the company’s interpretation of a Labour Court recommendation will leave some people short by €5,000 to €25,000.

Greencore maintains, however, that the redundancy payments are in line with a recommendation of the Labour Court and are fair and generous.

Workers, who accused the company of refusing to fully implement the Labour Court recommendation, have lobbied politicians, Government ministers and the European Commission.

Liam Lucey, a spokesman for the workers, said they are now pursuing possible industrial action but would welcome the intervention of the National Implementation Body in a bid to resolve the impasse.

He said the company had given a two fingered sign to workers, who had given it loyal service down over the years, and it had done the same to the Labour Court, which had recommended the payment.

Cork East Labour TD Joe Sherlock raised the issue in a question to Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister, Micheal Martin in the Dáil.

Deputy Sherlock asked Mr Martin what action he will take on the continuing refusal of Greencore to honour the terms of a Labour Court recommendation on redundancy terms.

Minister of State Tony Killeen explained that the Labour Court operates as an industrial relations tribunal, hearing both sides in a trade dispute.

It then issues recommendations setting out its opinion and the terms on which it considers the dispute should be settled.

In line with the voluntarist nature of the industrial relations system in this country, Labour Court recommendations for the resolution of trade disputes are not legally binding.

However, as the Labour Court is a court of last resort in the industrial relations process, it is expected that the parties come to the process in good faith and consequently are prepared to accept the outcome of the process, namely the Labour Court recommendation.

“I recently met with a union delegation in relation to this matter and my colleague, minister Martin, met both parties and urged them to resolve their differences.

“However, responsibility for the settlement of a dispute ultimately rests with the parties themselves,” he said.

Deputy Sherlock said Mr Martin had met and supported the workers and gave them assurances in favour of their position.

“His response to my question represents a complete betrayal of that position and he has washed his hands of this matter.

“Former workers at the plant have been let down by the minister and I am calling on him to directly intervene with the company on their behalf,” he said.