Greencore to ignore court over lay-off pay

GREENCORE has said it is not prepared to honour the Labour Court’s recommendation on the amount of redundancy pay it should give the workers which it made redundant in North Cork when Irish Sugar production ceased last May.

The company yesterday said the redundancy package it offered to staff in Mallow complied fully with and emanated from the company/union agreement on redundancy and that it was not prepared to pay the amount the Labour Court recommended. That statement came after the court clarified its position on the matter to both sides for the third time.

The workers quoted a letter they received from the Labour Court in which it said it “did not support the position contended by the company” and that the staff on annualised hours should have their ex-gratia lump sum calculated by reference to their full adjusted salary applicable at the time of redundancy plus 20% as provided for in the company/union agreement.