A dispute which has closed the American-owned Fulflex International plant at Galvone, Limerick, for three months ended yesterday.

It is understood a majority of SIPTU members voted to accept a Labour Court recommendation on the dispute, which involved the use of a swipe card system in relation to breaks and absence from workstations. It also included work changes to achieve "consistent quality and optimum process efficiency".

At the request of the union committee, the company says it will remove the swipe card system on condition that the members of SIPTU "demonstrate a fundamental change of attitude on an ongoing basis" up to the end of December.