ADM union dispute leads to 160 temporary layoffs

Sean O’Riordan

Unions at the ADM plant in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, called on Tánaiste Mary Harney to intervene yesterday, after the dispute escalated with the announcement that all staff were being laid off.

A number of SIPTU workers at the plant claimed that since March 5 they have been locked out by management because they have refused to undertake new working arrangements, which they said were foisted upon them without consultation.

SIPTU branch secretary Eddie Mullins, who represents 80 workers at the plant, said the company’s treatment of employees had been “disgraceful”.

“The company should have at least gone through the proper process and gone to the Labour Court, but they refused point blank,” he said.

Management had told a number of workers to change shifts and some had been asked to take on extra responsibility as part of restructuring plans at the plant, which manufactures citric acid for the soft drinks industry.

Mr Mullins said that since March 5 his members had turned up for work each day willing to abide by their existing terms and conditions, but management had refused to allow them in until they agreed to implement the changes.

“A number of employees have over 30 years’ service in the job. They would have worked with Pfizer before its citric acid business was sold to ADM in 1990,” Mr Mullins said.

He said that SIPTU workers hadn’t received any social welfare payments since March 5 because they had been available for work and had been turning up at the factory to do it. However, he acknowledged that some workers were now feeling the pinch.

“We haven’t sought social welfare payments yet, but at the end of the day we believe they will qualify for them,” Mr Mullins said.

Father-of-one John O’Callaghan said he and his colleagues were now working rosters of two to four hours on picket duty outside the Ringaskiddy plant.

“It’s come to the stage when the company won’t talk to the union and we don’t know where we stand. But we’re prepared for the long haul,” he said.

The company claimed the decision to lay off workers was forced on it because of the SIPTU No 2 branch’s failure to accept the restructuring plan.