Greencore ex-workers insist redundancy still owed

WORKERS formerly employed by Greencore Sugar in Mallow are awaiting a decision by the National Implementation Body on their dispute with the company over redundancy payments.

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

Workers claim the company’s failure to fully honour a Labour Court recommendation has left them short €25,000-€30,000 each in severance payments.

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

The Greencore Group of Unions comprising SIPTU, AMICUS, UCATT and the TEEU, wrote last month to Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan on the issue.

It requested her not to allocate a €144 million European Union sugar restructuring fund until Greencore implements the Labour Court recommendation on redundancy terms.

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.

Progress on payment of the restructuring fund is currently held up because of High Court proceedings taken by Greencore against the Government’s handling of the fund.