Ferguson advises Cortex workers to ‘stick it out’

Manchester United gaffer Alex Ferguson has advised the Vita Cortex workers to “stick it out” as they begin day 61 of their sit-in today.

The manager of one of the world’s largest football clubs spoke by phone to one of the Cork company’s longest-serving workers yesterday and backed their fight for redundancy.

“I congratulate you on your stance,” he said.

“I am really proud of you for standing up for your rights.

“And I’m glad to hear that there are a good few United fans in there.”

Mr Power said Ferguson recalled his role in the notorious engineering apprentices’ strikes which swept Glasgow’s shipyards in the 1960s.

Ferguson was a trade union shop steward at the time and after consultations with other union leaders, including comedian Billy Connolly, he led his members out on strike.

He was an activist in the Scottish Professional Footballers Association and as player-coach at Falkirk, he led the players out on strike when the manager docked their expenses after a 6-1 defeat.

The club bowed to player pressure and the manager was reprimanded.

Ferguson has admitted he has applied the lessons of his trade unionism to some effect in the dressing room over the years.

Mr Power said the phone call boosted the workers’ morale — “even those like Mick Delaney who support Liverpool”.

The call was arranged by Dave O’Connor, of Cork- based Suits Distributors, who is in Manchester to measure Ferguson for a new Jack Doyle suit.

Mr O’Connor said some members of his family worked in Vita Cortex over the years and he has donated several jackets from his Jack Doyle range to the workers.

Yesterday’s call came after Saturday’s solidarity march, which saw 5,000 people take to the streets of Cork with the workers.

The state broadcaster was criticised at last night’s meeting of Cork City Council for its coverage of the march.

Sinn Féin Cllr Henry Cremin described RTÉ’s one-line reference to the march on the Six One and Nine O’Clock news as a “bad response”.