ICTU calls for unions to back Vita Cortex march
The rallying call came last night as the 32 workers begin day 57 of their sit-in at the former foam factory today.
They have been engaged in a sit-in since the company closed on December 16 without paying their redundancy. They have a combined total of 847 years’ service.
Siptu has also welcomed Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s invitation to the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) to become involved again in the workers’ long-running battle for agreed redundancy payments.
Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, Mr Kenny said: “I feel for the workers involved because they are very decent people.”
He said what annoyed him was that the workers facilitated the company in relocating specialist equipment to a sister plant.
He said they did so on the specific understanding that when the process was concluded, they would be properly compensated by receiving an agreed redundancy payment of 2.9 weeks’ pay per year of service.
The company has claimed an inability to pay. The state is due to pay the two weeks statutory redundancy package within days.
The workers are continuing their campaign in pursuit of the 0.9 week element.
Meanwhile, the people behind the workers’ online campaign issued an appeal for people to stand with them tomorrow.
Darren O’Keeffe and Veronica Marshall said: “We are staying until justice is delivered. As a society, it is our responsibility to seek out justice no matter how well it has been hidden from us.”
Tomorrow’s rally has been organised by Cork Council of Trade Unions and begins at Connolly Hall at 2pm.
