TÁNAISTE AND Minister for Foreign Affairs Éamon Gilmore has pledged his full support to 32 former employees of a foam manufacturing firm in a bid to bring about a resolution to an 11-week-long dispute over redundancy payments.
Mr Gilmore met a delegation of four workers from the Vita Cortex plant on Kinsale Road in Cork at the weekend, who along with 28 colleagues have been occupying their former workplace since December 16th last in a dispute over redundancy payments.
The workers are seeking 2.9 weeks’ pay per year of service which, they say, was agreed with the company and given to other employees who left in 2009 and 2010, but owner Jack Ronan has said he does not have the money to pay such a level of redundancy.
Speaking after the meeting with former workers – Jim Power, Cal O’Leary, Seán Kelleher and Aimee Cotter – and Siptu branch officer Ann Egar, Mr Gilmore said he was determined to try to find a resolution to the ongoing dispute.
“We spoke about how long this dispute is going on and the length of service people had. I focused on how this might be resolved and I am now going away to see how I can use my good offices to try to help and get a resolution.”
Mr Gilmore conceded goodwill might be waning after 80 days of dispute but he expressed confidence a resolution could be found which would allow the 32 former Vita Cortex staff receive the same payments as their predecessors who took redundancy.
“I believe every dispute, no matter how difficult, can be resolved and brought to a conclusion if there’s a bit of lateral thinking. I think we have to concentrate on how this can be resolved, and I have some thoughts on that and I am going to work on that.”