Bookbinders to continue sit-in at company premises
The 14 employees have been engaged in a sit-in at O’Reilly’s Bookbinders in Wicklow town since July 18, when management first declared the company was insolvent.
The workers are members of SIPTU.
The Labour Relations Commission (LRC) appointed an independent assessor on Monday to carry out an examination of the viability of the business.
Preliminary figures on the company’s finances have been sent to the union by LRC appointed assessor Brian Aylward.
The appointment was made after management signalled it was prepared to reverse an earlier decision to close its Wicklow plant and transfer work to eastern Europe.
Organiser of the Irish Print Group division within SIPTU Shane McKean said yesterday a final report was not expected before Tuesday at the earliest.
In the meantime, the union’s financial experts will be examining the figures supplied so far by Mr Aylward.
The 10 women and four men comprising the workforce are determined to stay in the plant until a resolution is reached.
The company restores books for many universities, State-funded libraries, Government departments and the courts service.
The workers, who all live in Wicklow, decided to occupy the premises because the only assets the company seems to have are the equipment and any orders on books that need binding.
A union spokesperson said the company had offered €15,000 between the 14 employees, plus the sale of two cutting machines that would also be split between them.
Apart from one employee who only has about one year’s service, most have between 15 and 20 years’ service and a few are believed to have up to 28 years.
Ms Debbie Hanlon, who has been with the company for 22 years, said the weekend sit-in would be difficult because all of them had families and commitments.
“What we do not understand is that two weeks ago we were told the company was insolvent and then last week we were all offered our jobs back. But we have no proof that the company is solvent,” she said.
Ms Hanlon said the workers were delighted with the support they had received from around the country.
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