Unions want €144m decision delayed

UNIONS representing Irish Sugar/Greencore workers have asked Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan to delay the allocation of a €144-million restructuring fund until management implements a Labour Court recommendation on redundancy terms.

Ms Coughlan is due to make a decision by Thursday on the allocation of funds.

The dispute over the Labour Court’s recommendation is currently with the National Implementation Body.

The Labour Court issued its recommendation in early May. The workers have accepted the recommendation. However despite two clarifications by the Labour Court, management has still not implemented the recommendation and has attempted to impose a less favourable severance package which falls significantly short of the court’s recommendation, according to a union spokesman.

Patrick Guilfoyle, on behalf of the unions, reminded Ms Coughlan that according to EU rules, in order to benefit from the restructuring fund, all national legislation and collective agreements must be complied with.

“In this case, Irish Sugar/Greencore are currently in breach of the collective agreement on redundancy and of the ensuing Labour Court Recommendation,” he added.

The group of unions comprises SIPTU, AMICUS, UCATT and the TEEU.

Labour’s agriculture spokesperson Dr Mary Upton has called on the minister to allocate most of the EU sugar industry restructuring fund to beet growers and redundant factory workers.