Joinery Workers Dig In For Mass Pickets

Workers at a Kilkenny joinery plant are to escalate protests as part of an ongoing severance pay dispute.

According to the worker's Union Siptu, workers are now planning mass pickets on the company's head office and other plants to coincide with the end of builders' holidays next Tuesday.

Siptu claims that 50 workers, who are members of the union, are in dispute over the company's refusal to implement a Labour Court recommendation for severance pay of four weeks’ per year of service.

The company, which manufactures doors, windows and other joinery products, closed the Ballingarry plant on July 17.

Local Siptu shop steward Sean O'Brien, who has worked at the plant for 41 years, said workers were determined to see the protest, which is into its second week, through to a successful conclusion: "The men have given a lifetime of service to Carroll's, on average 25 years and in some cases as much as 45 years.

"During this time the company has literally made millions through the hard labour, skilled craftsmanship and loyal service of its workforce. To walk away from a Labour Court recommendation in these circumstances is a disgrace," the Siptu steward said.

A statutory minimum of two weeks' payment per year of service has already been paid to redundant workers, but the tradesmen are holding out for four weeks' payment following a recommendation from the Labour Court.

The workers are all local to the area and many are still in shock at the loss of their jobs.

Mr O'Brien added: "If Carroll's are allowed to get away with this it will send a green light to employers everywhere to ignore the Labour Court and declare open season on the terms and conditions of working people.

"We are fighting for justice for all workers threatened with redundancy, not just ourselves."

(DW/BMcc)