A dispute over new working procedures at the Fulflex plant in Limerick was still deadlocked yesterday, with a picket sanctioned by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on the plant.
The workers returned from holiday yesterday with members of SIPTU, TEEU and MSF claiming they are locked out in a dispute with management, which is now going into its fourth week. The dispute is over new working procedures. The unions claim that management has refused to negotiate procedures for the introduction of a swipe-card time-recording system.
The Limerick SIPTU branch secretary, Mr Alan O'Leary, denied there were poor industrial relations in the plant.
"We advised the company that we would go into discussions, but the company implemented its proposals regardless of our agreement on procedures," he said.
"We just want the company to act within procedures, and the status quo should prevail while proper negotiations are held," he added.
A management spokesman said the company was seriously concerned with the deterioration of the situation and stressed that changes on machine speed and time recording were fundamental to the viability and competitiveness of Fulflex in its worldwide market.
"The company would hope that the staff have reflected on the issues during the holiday period and the offer made to the union official during the holidays to contact the general manager manufacturing this week would be followed up. "The unions are on strike because they have failed to adhere to the current agreement which provides procedures to discuss grievances while continuing to work," the spokesman said. Conciliation talks failed two weeks ago, and the Labour Relations Commission has advised both parties that it is available for discussions.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare is to rule whether the striking workers are entitled to social welfare, as they claim they have been locked out.
No unionised staff passed the picket yesterday, but administration and management are at work. Fulflex, a member of the Moore Company, Rhode Island, US, is the world's leading manufacturer of elastic tapes, threads and rings and employs over 130 people at its Galvone plant. It has been operating in Limerick for 30 years.