Plant ‘faces closure’ if strike continues

A COMPANY and its workforce were at loggerheads yesterday over the cause of a dispute that threatens more than160 jobs.

Picketing began at Atlas Aluminium in Limerick a week ago.

Workers claim the dispute centres on pay, back pay and unfair treatment of non-national staff members.

The company has dismissed this and insist the dispute centres on one voluntary redundancy.

As more than 100 of the 160 workers continued their picket yesterday, fears mounted that the company will close down.

Most of the workers at Atlas Aluminium are Polish. They claim they are not being treated as well as their Irish colleagues and say that they are each owed €2,500 in back pay. The company strenuously denies the claims and warned if it is unable to get orders out to customers, it will be forced to close. The company appealed to the workers to return to work.

Karen O’Loughlin of SIPTU said two meetings with the company took place on Monday, but she accused management of not entering into meaningful negotiations.

Ms O’Loughlin said the company indicated that it was about to close down.

Atlas Aluminium accused Ms O’Loughlin of showing a completely reckless attitude towards the jobs of 163 people.

A spokesman said: “This ill thought-out action is grossly irresponsible and unhelpful given there are ongoing communications between both parties that are aimed at ending this.”

The largely Polish workforce has hit out at the company’s attitude towards them.

They claim Irish workers are treated better.

They also claim they have not received a pay rise in three years and are owed €2,500 back pay.

The Atlas spokesman said: “Atlas Aluminium treats all its employees, whether Irish nationals or non-nationals, in an equal manner and in line with normal employee relations practices agreed with SIPTU.”

He said the company had not received a single complaint regarding treatment of non-national staff under its grievance procedure, which was established under a joint company/union agreement.

The company also called on SIPTU to adhere to the terms of the national wage agreement, of which it was a co-author, and call off the strike.

Ms O’Loughlin said there is a feeling among Polish workers that they are being treated unfavourably but the claim is hard to quantify.

The company, located at Dock Road, makes car components. It was established in 1980.

It is estimated that Atlas contributes up to €10 million to the Limerick economy every year.