Ex-Bowen staff await pay despite court order

AS VITA Cortex workers continue their sit-in, it has emerged that employees from another Cork company still have not received most of their entitlements, six months after a receiver was appointed.

Senator John Gilroy is to ask Richard Bruton to explain why 92 former workers at Bowen Construction Ltd, still have not been paid, despite a July High Court order.

Mr Gilroy said following a period of trading difficulties, the firm petitioned the High Court to appoint a provisional liquidator for the orderly winding-up of the company.

“During the High Court hearing on the July 25, Ms Justice Laffoy made a number of orders, including directing the provisional liquidator to discharge the company’s July payroll on condition that sufficient funds became available to do so,” he said.

“However, two days later, NAMA succeeded in having the provisional liquidator replaced by a receiver and the orders of the High Court were ignored.”

He said the 92 former workers have been left without wages they were entitled to. Some have received statutory redundancy while others have not. “Employees are adamant that their dispute is not with Bowen Construction Ltd, but with NAMA,” Mr Gilroy said.

Meanwhile, it has emerged union leaders are trying to organise a mass protest outside the Dáil next Thursday to highlight the plight of the 32 Vita Cortex workers.

The company has lodged an ‘inability to pay’ claim with the Social Insurance Fund.

The workers, who appeared on The Late Late Show last night, say they are entitled to 2.9 weeks’ pay per year of service, but if the Social Insurance Fund decides the company’s claim is legitimate, they will only get two weeks’ pay per year of service.

Vita Cortex owner Jack Ronan said in a statement last night that his financial position “does not allow” him to make funds available to former workers. “A business plan has been sent to NAMA which is being reviewed and the process is being worked through with them on these loans... I am still fully committed to all the businesses I am involved in including Vita Cortex.”