Strike action in dairy industry

SIPTU has served strike notice on the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association following a ballot of members.

The union said the move was over unilateral changes to existing terms and conditions of employment.

But the ICMSA said the action was totally inappropriate, unacceptable and not in accordance with established procedures.

SIPTU represents 14 members in the ICMSA, whose head office is in Limerick.

Ger Kennedy, assistant branch secretary with the union, said the strike notice was due to take effect on Monday next, September 27.

That’s the day before the opening of the national ploughing championships, the premier event in the Irish agricultural year.

Meanwhile, SIPTU said it would be available for discussions with the ICMSA, the country’s second largest farmers’ organisation, which was founded in 1950 and has 40,000 members.

The ICMSA said it had been served with notice of industrial action by SIPTU, which represents some of its staff.

It said it was prepared to discuss any issues SIPTU members may have.

“It is the Association’s position that the threat of industrial action should be suspended forthwith to allow the parties to engage in meaningful discussions, with the objective of resolving any outstanding grievances,” it said.