FAMILY MEMBERS of 32 Vita Cortex employees who have been staging a sit-in over redundancy entitlements since December 16th will join them in a solidarity protest today.
The protest takes place at lunchtime at the factory in Ballyphehane, Cork. Workers are seeking a €1.2 million redundancy package – 2.9 weeks per year of service for each worker – which they believe their employer Jack Ronan has the ability to pay. They have previously described as insulting a Vita Cortex offer of a payment of €1,500 each, along with two weeks’ wages.
Vita Cortex employee Greg Marshall said staff engaged in the sit-in have been “truly touched and motivated” by messages of support from the public flooding in via Facebook. He claimed workers were united in their determination to continue the sit-in until they saw visible results.
“We are doing this for our extended families, and that, along with the ongoing support from the public, is what keeps us fighting.”