Talks to avert an escalation of the AIBP dispute over severance pay broke down in Portlaoise last night. SIPTU national industrial secretary Mr John Kane said that all-out pickets would come into force by next Wednesday unless "wiser counsel" prevailed.
A company spokesman said AIBP had been prepared to go to the Labour Court provided pickets were lifted by the weekend, but the unions had only been prepared to lift pickets on the eve of the court hearing. The dispute is over severance payments for staff on short-time working who wish to leave.