Workers at the centre of a protracted dispute over pay and conditions in a Co Wexford nursing home yesterday demonstrated outside the Dublin offices of its owner.
Siptu's Wexford branch secretary, Mr Michael Wall, and some of the affected workers held a demonstration outside Main Street Properties, Blackrock, Co Dublin, the business owned by Mr John Clare, the main shareholder in Springvalley nursing home, Templeshannon, Enniscorthy.
The lunchtime demonstration was to highlight the long-running strike, now in its ninth week.
The nursing home was unexpectedly sold on Wednesday.
Pickets have been in place outside the home since August 28th. The owner, Mr Clare, who confirmed that the sale had taken place, said that redundancy talks were under way.
However, Mr Wall said that SIPTU had not been informed of the latest developments.
"I have not been contacted in relation to redundancy payments or about the sale of the property. However, I welcome the sale and look forward to dealing with the new owners and resolving this dispute." No information was available about the sale, apart from the fact that the buyers are a man and woman from Dublin who are already involved in healthcare.
It is understood that pickets will remain in place outside the nursing home until negotiations with the present or new owners begin.