Bookbinding firm does u-turn on plant closure
In a dramatic u-turn in the dispute, Reilly Bookbinders said it now hoped to retain its Wicklow town plant and to continue operating as it did before its shock announcement two weeks ago that it was moving to the Czech Republic.
However, the 14 workers who have been occupying the plant round the clock since the closure announcement said last night they would continue their sit-in until they had independent verification that the firm was in a position to honour its new offer to stay.
A financial assessor was appointed by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) yesterday to examine the company’s books. Accountant Brian Aylward is expected to begin his work immediately and report back to the LRC by the end of the week.
The company’s change of heart followed the dispute’s referral to the LRC where talks were expected to take place on trade union demands for the appointment of a liquidator or at least an improved redundancy deal for the staff.
Up to yesterday, the company was claiming it could not pay statutory redundancy and was offering instead a cash payment of €15,000 to be divided between all 14 workers, along with a share of proceeds from the sale of two cutting machines.
However, during two hours of talks yesterday morning, the company revealed it was keen to stay in Wicklow.
Company management; employers body, IBEC, and representatives from the SIPTU trade union subsequently agreed on the appointment of the assessor to determine how realistic the proposal was.
Shane McKean of the Irish Print Group division of SIPTU said the workers were puzzled by the company’s change of tack.
“We’re not too sure where the company is coming from at this stage. Last week they were insolvent and could find no money to pay for the redundancy package and today they’re talking about staying put. Are they solvent, are they insolvent?”
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