Industrial relations trouble shooters may be called in to help resolve a row between Dell management and staff in Limerick over redundancy payments, it was revealed today.
Talks between the parties collapsed with employee representatives claiming the computer giant refused to improve the package.
Workers said Dell is offering six weeks pay for every year of service, to be capped at 104 weeks, but argue it is not enough.
Denis Ryan, chair of the employees’ representative committee, said they feel let down by the company and are considering taking their dispute to the Labour Relations Commission.
“To say the least, the talks with management have been extremely disappointing and we feel utterly let down,” Mr Ryan said.
“It is as if the efforts of staff, who made billions of dollars in profits for the company over the years, at the plant count for nothing.
Workers are to hold a meeting on Friday night to discuss their next move.
“If necessary we are willing to go to the Labour Relations Commission to see if we can advance to a fairer package and will be deciding on this Friday night.”
In January, 1,900 employees were made redundant from the company’s Limerick plant at Raheen, with another 100 axed last month and 130 at Cherrywood in south Dublin.
Talks were held between bosses and workers’ representatives, leading the company to offer an improved redundancy package for the laid-off Limerick workers in February.
But discussions collapsed more than a week ago, with workers claiming bosses would not improve the package further.
Employees are demanding the six-weeks pay be increased to seven and bosses pay a once-off winding down payment of around €7,000 to each employee.
A Dell spokeswoman said the company will continue to talk with employees.
The company's initially offered six weeks pay for every year of service capped at 52 weeks, before improving the offer.
Workers also now have the option of having their shift allowance included in their package or of taking an alternative option of having six months of health and life insurance paid for by the firm.
"The company is offering a competitive package and it continues to meet with and listen to its employees on an ongoing basis," the spokeswoman said.
PA