Workers vote to end Greencore redundancy dispute

FORMER Greencore workers have voted to end a protracted redundancy dispute in a move they say will allow them to get on with their lives.

The former sugar company employees overwhelmingly accepted the latest set of Labour Court recommendations at a meeting this weekend.

Crucially, Greencore has confirmed it will abide by the latest Labour Court clarification and meet the €3.4 million redundancy demands.

Workers’ spokesman Kieran Buckley said the former employees fully supported the Labour Court’s final clarification on its recommendations, which was issued last Wednesday.

He said: “We have finally got what seems to be an amicable agreement to all of this.

“For the past 10-and-a- half months we have abided by the Labour Court and felt our demands were right and we are delighted it has finally been justified.”

The deal means the former Greencore workers will get five-and-half weeks pay for every year of service.

This will be based on each worker’s salary on the day the plant closed.

Mr Buckley said with both sides now accepting the terms of the deal, he hopes a schedule of payments will be sorted out in the next week.

Last May, Greencore made 500 staff redundant in Mallow and Carlow. The dispute involved 145 workers.

Workers say half of those made redundant on May 12 are still without work.

However, Mr Buckley said workers are now looking forward to moving on.

“People are just relieved that they can see closure coming to all this in the next week.

“People did not know where they stood. They lost their jobs and have mortgages and bills to worry about. At least now they can look forward to getting on with their lives,” he said.