Swissco workers demand payout

More than 80 former workers of Swissco, which closed suddenly in December, have today protested at the company building in Little Island, Co Cork, demanding redundancy money.

The ready-meals company announced in September that it was to close with the loss of 154 jobs because of unprofitability.

There was hope when an independent auditor said the company could trade its way out of trouble — but that changed in December when the High Court was told the company had no chance of survival.

Employees were called in and told the company was to close immediately.

The employees received statutory redundancy, but a Labour Court ruling said the company was also to provide redundancy payments.

Swissco is part of International Cuisine Limited, which is owned by Singapore Foods.

After a meeting of employees in the Gresham Metropole Hotel last week, it was decided that they would protest outside the gates of the company today.

A letter has also been sent to Singapore Foods by the employees, outlining their grievances.

Cork TD Billy Kelleher has confirmed that he is still negotiating with the company to provide redundancy payments that he says workers are entitled to under the Labour Court agreement.

The protest today coincided with the viewing of the plant’s machinery that will be put up for auction on Wednesday.

City councillor Mick Barry said this situation was outrageous. “Not a single screw should be allowed to leave that plant until such time as the just demands of the workforce for redundancy payments have been met.

“The Waterford Glass workers have shown how to checkmate asset strippers, and their example is one that should be looked at very carefully here.”

There was no comment available from Swissco today.

Article courtesy of the Evening Echo newspaper.