Union representatives of staff made redundant at travel company Thomas Cook in Dublin last week are travelling to London today for talks with the company's management.
Speaking on his way to the talks, Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) general secretary Gerry Doherty said he hoped the talks would be "short and sweet" as the past few weeks had been "pretty traumatic for everyone".
The talks come following the release yesterday of some 26 workers and union representatives and three politicians who had occupied the Thomas Cook premises on Dublin's Grafton Street in defiance of court orders.
They were released after purging their contempt of court.
Yesterday, at the High Court Mr Justice Michael Peart ordered that the group of workers, along with officials of their union, the Transport Salaried Staff’s Association (TSSA) ,and three supporters – Cllr Richard Boyd Barrett, Cllr Matthew Waine of the Socialist Party and Sara O’Rourke, a volunteer in the People before Profit organisation – be released from custody.
Speaking in court yesterday, counsel for Thomas Cook, Mark Connaughton SC, told Mr Justice Michael Peart that the company was prepared to enter talks with the staff union, the TSSA, and that the company wanted to "defuse" the situation.
Staff barricaded themselves in the Thomas Cook offices on Dublin’s Grafton Street last Friday in an attempt to force the company’s senior management to agree an improved redundancy package.
Thomas Cook said they were prepared to talk to the workers if they vacated the premises. RTÉ reported this morning that staff representatives were due to attend talks in London with Thomas Cook management.
The occupation began after staff were informed that offices on Grafton Street and North Earl Street were to close with immediate effect.