Relief as workers vote in favour of compromise deal

There was a palpable sense of relief in Killarney, Co Kerry, yesterday following confirmation that a long- running and sometimes tense dispute at the Liebherr crane factory has been resolved.

By majority vote, the 300 Siptu workers involved decided to accept a package brokered by Kevin Foley, director of conciliation services at the Labour Relations Commission.

In January, the Siptu members rejected a Labour Court recommendation for settlement but, in a ballot this week, they agreed a deal including 2.5% in back pay, to May 2012, in return for changed work practices.