Vita Cortex director breaks silence on dispute

A director and former non-executive chairman of Vita Cortex broke his silence on the bitter six-week dispute last night as the sit-in workers began protesting outside his home.

The workers, who have been occupying the former foam factory in Cork for 42 days, said they are targeting Sean McHenry’s house in a bid to “embarrass” him into finding a resolution.

Mr McHenry, whose son-in-law Jack Ronan runs the company, said he “understands the predicament” the workers are in.

“But I don’t know what they hope to achieve by this,” he said.

“It’s an unofficial dispute, yet they are handing out union literature.

“At the moment, I have no intention of doing anything about it. It’s not very pleasant for my wife and family. My wife won’t go outside the house now, which is unfortunate. But we’ll get through it.”

The workers have been occupying the Kinsale Road plant for six weeks in a row over redundancy payments. The Labour Relations Commission (LRC) intervened last week and a strategy to end the sit-in was agreed. However, Mr Ronan failed to agree the handover of an asset to Nama last Friday which would have allowed the agency release funds to pay the workers.

In a major escalation of their action, they took their campaign to the gates of Mr McHenry’s Douglas home for 45 minutes on Monday, and twice on Tuesday. They plan to continue the protest over the coming days.

They placed “Siptu: Support the Vita Cortex Workers” signs on street poles near his home.

Shop steward Sean Kelleher said he and his 31 colleagues were disappointed with the outcome of the LRC talks and, furthermore, with Mr McHenry.

Fellow worker Jim Power said the workers feel the focus now needs to turn on Mr McHenry in the hope he can press for a resolution. However, Mr McHenry said he thought the workers were being badly advised and used by sections of the media.

“I have written to my neighbours to try to explain to them what’s happening,” he said. “I’ve known these workers since they were kids. They are basically a decent bunch. But I think they have been very badly advised.”

Mr McHenry retired from the company in 1993 after 53 years’ service. He is still a director and retains a minority shareholding.

He had been confident even in early December, he said, that following talks with Nama the workers would be paid their redundancy. However, he never entertained the current impasse unfolding.

He said Mr Ronan and his legal representatives had been engaged with Nama since the LRC chaired talks ended last Friday without resolution.

“Jack is getting careful financial and legal advice. I am hopeful he will succeed,” said Mr McHenry.

In a letter on page 13 of today’s paper, written prior to yesterday’s picket, his son, John, said he recognises the workers’ right to protest and their right to seek “adequate remuneration for their many years of hard work and loyalty to the company”.

The public continues to support the workers with deliveries of food and supplies from local businesses.

The Friar’s Walk Tavern, meanwhile, is hosting a fundraising night for the workers at 9pm on Saturday.