Workers continue sit-in at Wicklow bookbinding firm

Fourteen staff members are continuing a sit in at a bookbinding company in Wicklow town today.

Management at Reilly Bookbinders told staff 10 days ago that it was ceasing operations.

The workers were laid off with immediate effect and began their sit in the following day.

The company is the country's largest library bookbinders and staff believe their jobs will be outsourced to eastern Europe.

Talks between both sides at the Labour Relations Commission broke down last week after the company made what SIPTU says was a derisory offer of €1,000 per worker, some of whom have given 28 years' service.

The union says it wants a liquidator appointed in the hope that someone can take over the firm as a going concern and keep the jobs in Wicklow.