End of Vita Cortex sit-in expected tomorrow
A total of 23 former workers have been sitting in at the Vita Cortex plant in Cork since before last Christmas.
They took the action after they accused the company’s owner Jack Ronan of reneging on an agreement to pay them 2.9% of a week’s pay per year of service.
Following protracted talks with the Labour Relations Commission, Siptu and Mr Ronan an agreement was finally hammered out to pay the workers a lower and undisclosed percentage of the 0.9% they felt they were entitled to.
Jim Power, who worked at the plant for 43 years, said the settlement details were confidential, but that workers were happy with the resolution: “Five people have already got the payment though their bank accounts. They are all AIB account holders.”
He said the remaining workers held Permanent TSB, Bank of Ireland and credit union accounts.
“We were hoping that they would be all paid by Wednesday, which would mark the 160th day of the sit-in. But it looks more likely that it will be Thursday,” Mr Power said.
“There is a feeling of relief that it’s finally coming to an end.”
