Dairygold dispute could escalate, warns SIPTU
Up to 35 workers at the facility in Mallow spent a second day on strike yesterday in a row over rosters, pay and fears of redundancies.
A spokesperson at the Mallow branch of SIPTU said there had been "no change" in the dispute and that there had been no contact from the company.
Dairygold had announced plans to reorganise its milk processing plants in Mitchelstown, Mogeely and Mallow, but workers at the Mallow plant reacted furiously to plans to alter existing working hours.
Workers were told in early November that new rosters would be introduced at the plant.
Some staff continued to show for work based on old work patterns and six workers were ultimately suspended.
Workers were balloted on possible strike action while recent attempts to resolve the situation at the Labour Relations Court collapsed on Wednesday last, prompting Thursday and Friday's industrial action.
John Cooney of the Mallow branch of SIPTU said other workers at the company would support the striking workers if need be, a move which could affect more than 200 staff.
"One thing that can happen, if they [the company] carry on like that, is that the whole of Dairygold can be affected," he said.
"There will be a major dispute if they do not resolve this. We have no business agreeing something with the company if they suddenly decide 'this isn't suiting us we'll just tear it up'."
The workers have also accused company management of suspension and non-payment of wages.
The SIPTU members are also concerned about failure to agree on redundancy packages with the company, with SIPTU claiming that full-time milk processing staff were likely to be let go.
A spokesperson for Dairygold yesterday admitted that the present situation was likely to continue into next week.
The company has argued that the new work practices implemented in Mitchelstown and Mogeely have proved successful and claimed that the Mitchelstown facility will produce 25 million gallons of Glanbia milk under the new rosters.
In a separate statement yesterday Tim Healy, division director of Dairygold's milk processing division, said striking workers had displayed "little appetite for resolving the situation."
