‘Indefinite’ strike begins at Cadbury production plant

Mondelez Ireland has warned that strike action which begins this morning will undermine the future viability of both its Cadbury manufacturing sites and potentially the jobs of 700 employees.

At 7am at the production plant in Coolock, workers, members of Siptu and Unite trade unions, begin an “indefinite” strike .

Siptu’s sector organiser, John Dunne, said the action followed management’s announcement that it intends to “unilaterally implement a Labour Court recommendation and outsource the jobs of 17 directly employed store workers”.

Mr Dunne said that Labour Court recommendation had been rejected by workers and Siptu and Unite members had proposed further talks on reducing costs and increasing flexibility. He said had been rejected by management.

Mondelez said both the Coolock and Rathmore chocolate manufacturing sites are under intense pressures from international competition. It said it had presented proposals to staff here to restructure the chocolate manufacturing business, with the aim of streamlining it and had also offered to invest €11.7m in new technology to enable the Coolock plant to concentrate its core chocolate brands; Cadbury Dairy Milk 8-square, Flake, Twirl, and Boost. It said it had accepted the Labour Court recommendation.

Meanwhile, further travel chaos looms for Dublin commuters after confirmation of further stoppage dates by Luas drivers and the threat of strikes by Dart drivers.

Luas drivers have served notice of 48 hours of strikes on March 27-28, Easter Sunday and Monday. It is understood the four grades of employees represented by Siptu in the Luas operation had been willing to suspend action which is scheduled for March 8 to allow for talks at the Workplace Relations Commission between the two sides, but the driver grade said it would need to serve notice of the Easter action now to give the company the required 21 days notice.

The strikes on March 8 as well as St Patrick’s Day and now Easter are set to go ahead unless talks are convened and yield a solution.

Transdev managing director Gerry Madden said: “Siptu are not just threatening the company with their unrealistic pay claims but are now prepared to jeopardise the Irish economy and Irish jobs. The state has made great plans for the centenary of 1916 and transport is a vital part of those plans.”

Dart drivers, represented by Siptu, voted unanimously in favour of strike action in the event Irish Rail presses ahead with plans to introduce rosters for a 10-minute service on April 10.