UP TO 5,000 people attended a march organised in support of Vita Cortex workers over the weekend in one of the biggest public demonstrations Cork city has seen in recent years.
The former workers at Vita Cortex are entering their third month occupying their former workplace in Ballyphehane on the south side of Cork city.
They were promised 0.9 of a week for each year of service, ex gratia, by the owners of Vita Cortex when the foam factory closed in December.
The State has stepped in to pay statutory entitlements but the company has claimed inability to pay a total of another €372,000.
Addressing the rally on Saturday, Siptu organiser Anne Egar said the former Vita Cortex workers had shown “stamina and principle” in pursuing their fight for redundancy payments.
She added that Vita Cortex owner Jack Ronan should “pay his bills and not expect everyone else to pick up his tab.”
Ms Egar said the workers’ campaign had captured the sympathy of the nation.
“I think that their dignity has been an example to everyone around the country,” she added. “Their story has certainly resonated with people.”
Vita Cortex worker Martina Anderson told the crowd that the fight to secure their agreed redundancy payments had been hard on staff and their families, but they were determined to have a positive outcome to the dispute.
Siptu general secretary Joe O’Flynn pledged the union’s support for the workers and said all was being done to bring a just conclusion to the dispute.
Siptu president Jack O’Connor said the company had it within its means to end the ordeal of the former employees and pay the 0.9 of a week for each year of service.
This had been agreed previously and was upheld by the Labour Relations Commission.
The march got under way at 1.30pm on Saturday from Connolly Hall in Cork city. The crowd was addressed by among others Cork Council of Trade Unions ( representatives Pat Guilfoyle and Ann Piggott and former workers at the plant.
Attendees at the march included local Le Senza workers who were engaged in a similar dispute, representatives of the INTO, the INWO, TEEU, Impact and Siptu, friends and family of the employees and members of the public.
Vita Cortex workers have received messages of support from people including linguist Noam Chomsky, former president Mary Robinson, comedian Des Bishop and Cork hurling manager Jimmy Barry Murphy.