VIDEO: Ballyvolane Texaco staff prepared for long sit-in

Staff at the Texoil/Texaco filling station at Ballyvolane, Cork are refusing to leave the premises until they receive all wage payments owed to them.

The workers are staging the protest until the company which operated the station since January, Highway Retail, give them written assurances that all entitlements, including sick pay and holiday pay, will be honoured.

Deirdre Cregan, who was management at the station said: "We are having a sit-in due to the fact that we are entitled to redundancy and holiday pay."

She added: "We are staying put until we have it in writing that we are going to get what we are entitled to."

Staff were told a few weeks ago that the lease on the filling station would be ended unless a reduction on rent could be negotiated for the premises.

Highway Retail had promised to keep staff informed but the station was unexpectedly closed at short notice yesterday.

Danny Falvey, staff spokesman, said the group are willing to sit-in for a long period.

"We're not leaving until we get what we are owed. It's a shame that it's come to this, but that's the way it is. That's the way it seems to have gone in recent years. And we're not leaving," he said.