Dawn talks break down

TALKS on 65 redundancies at the boning hall of Dawn Meats in Midleton, Co Cork, broke down at the Labour Relations Commission last night.

SIPTU, which represents the workers affected, said it is now seeking to refer the case to the Labour Court.

SIPTU branch organiser Ben Weathers said the talks failed because the company was not willing to offer more than 3.5 weeks’ pay per year of service to each member, inclusive of statutory entitlements.

He said Dawn Meats also wanted to cap payments at e600 a week.

“This was a poor offer at any time,” Mr Weathers said. “But it is especially inadequate in the present climate when alternative employment is almost impossible to get.

“Our members did offer to work in the Charleville plant, to which their work is being transferred, even though it is 40 miles away.

“However, the company has said it would only employ them there on a cost-neutral basis, in other words at the same rates as Charleville employees who are on the national minimum wage.”

The closure of the boning operation also affects 70 agency workers though it is not clear whether they will also lose their roles.