‘Heartbreaking — there is no other word’

“WE sat here like a family looking out for each other..

Our partners, children and grandchildren have visited us every day and we had a family Christmas in the strangest of circumstances. When Amy and Chloe were born we rejoiced like a family because that is what we are — a family.”

These are the words of Greg Marshall, one of 32 workers engaged in a sit-in at the Vita Cortex factory in Cork, describing in a blog the spirit and determination that has driven him and his colleagues to occupy the plant on the Kinsale Road.

Like any family, the Vita Cortex workers have ups and downs. Since they learned they would not be getting redundancy, the former workers have been staging a sit-in, sharing triumphs and disasters. The biggest triumph of all was the birth last week of twin girls to Denise O’Flynn, wife of Vita Cortex worker Ger.

Greg’s daughter, Veronica, was on the picket line in support of her father and the other workers.

“There is a long family history here,” she said.

“My two granduncles worked here and Dad was here for 32 years, from the age of 17 in the factory and working his way up to a management positions.

“It was amazing to see such support. It wasn’t just confined to workers and family. Lots of people came just to show their solidarity and the really wonderful thing was that the protest was not political. A lot of protests descend into hate but this one was peaceful and family orientated.”

It was strange, nonetheless, for Veronica to see her father engaged in a sit-in.

“There I was last year giving out to him for going into work to check on deliveries over Christmas when he was supposed to be off and now, this year, he was hardly around for Christmas or available to us because of the protest.

“It was very difficult. We usually really look forward to Christmas but this one has not been easy for us.”

Christmas hasn’t been easy either for Marie McCabe and her family. Son Kevin and daughter Catherine had been working with Vita Cortex for years and at one stage she had five children employed by the company.

As she stood outside the Pearse Road entrance to the plant, Marie reflected on the past while fearing for the future.

“Kevin worked here for 13 years and Catherine was there for seven-and-a-half years. Vita Cortex used to be a great employer and everyone was treated very well but that has all changed. Things are getting tougher by the day. All my children are still living at home with me now because they can’t afford to move out.

“Kevin spent Christmas Day here at the sit-in and, of course, we came to see him on Christmas more and to do what we could for him, but it was very hard. Heartbreaking — there is no other word for it.”

Nonetheless, she and her family have been heartened by the level of support from friends and the community.

“The support has been extraordinary. The taxi drivers were outstanding, bringing workers and their family members here for free. Local pizza restaurants and other takeaways delivered food here without even been asked.

“The bishop has been here three or four times. It has been amazing, and a great boost for the families.

“One elderly woman came up to Kevin and gave him a €1 coin, telling him that her husband had been an accountant with Vita Cortex and that the first Monday of January was always known as Lucky Monday, so she wished him good luck.”

Another piece of good luck was the birth of those twins, something Kevin himself found heartening.

“It was fantastic,” he said, taking a brief respite at the family home in Togher.

“A great boost for Ger and Denise, although Ger now has to go on the dole, which won’t be easy, as they have another four year-old as well.”

Going on the dole is also a first for Kevin. “In fact, my sister Catherine and I signed on the dole the same day, although neither of us has received anything yet.”

* Follow the ex-workers’ campaign on Facebook at http://exa.mn/cortex.