Vita has a ‘moral obligation’ to staff

Union officials representing the Vita Cortex workers have insisted manager Jack Ronan has a clear moral obligation to compensate his staff, regardless of whether he has a legal obligation to pay extra redundancy.

Speaking yesterday after a tense Labour Relations Commission meeting, Siptu organiser Anne Egar said any breakthrough in the long-running dispute could only take place once this situation is accepted.

Ms Egar said if Mr Ronan had a legal obligation to pay the additional funding, the union would have gone to court immediately and the issue could have been resolved before Christmas.