Workers end plant sit-in as redundancy offer accepted

WORKERS at Reilly Bookbinders have ended their four-week occupation of the plant after accepting an improved redundancy offer from the company.

Fourteen employees began a round-the-clock sit-in at the Wicklow town premises on July 18 following the shock announcement that the firm, which operated in the town for 30 years, was broke, was relocating to eastern Europe and didn’t plan to pay them even statutory redundancy.

The four men and 10 women yesterday agreed unanimously an improved redundancy package brokered by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC). Under the deal they will each get between four and eight weeks’ pay in lieu of notice, all holiday pay due to them and payment of wages for their time in occupation.