Group threatens to publish payout figures

GREENCORE has threatened to publish the redundancy package figures of former Irish Sugar workers on a name by name basis in support of its view that the severance terms are both fair and reasonable.

Some 145 former Irish Sugar workers said they were owed €3.4 million in redundancy payments, following the closure of Mallow beet factory last May, because the company had not honoured a Labour Court ruling.

However, Greencore insisted the redundancy payments were full and fair, were consistent with the Labour Court recommendation and were in compliance with a company-union agreement.

A spokesman, responding to criticism of Greencore on the redundancy issue, said it was the company’s view that it had fully honoured its obligations to its former workers.

“The deal reflects a long-standing company union agreement and is, in the stated view of the Labour Court, “comparable with most of the better severance settlements achieved in recent years”.

“The average payout is in excess of €150,000. A number of workers would be getting well in excess of €200,000. By any objective or reasonable measure these amounts are both fair and reasonable,” he said.

However, SIPTU’S National Industrial Secretary, Mr Gerry McCormack, has already stated that union members who have only received statutory redundancy entitlements are still seeking to be paid the severance package recommended and clarified by the Labour Court.

Mr McCormack said SIPTU and the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) were once more calling on the Government not to distribute the EU sugar reform compensation package until Greencore honoured in full the redundancy terms recommended by the Labour Court.