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2005

Strike notice served on Irish Shell

Date Released: 11 Nov 2005

SIPTU has served notice of industrial action on Irish Shell on behalf of 65 clerical, managerial, supervisory and administrative grades employed in Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Cork to expire on November 17, 2005, when pickets will be placed on the company's premises.

"Management at Irish Shell is attempting to impose change without agreement which will result in a worsening of employment conditions for our members," said SIPTU Assistant Branch Organiser, Ann Ryan.

"We have a long standing agreement, dating back to 1985 which requires both parties to maintain the status quo until the Labour Court has had an opportunity to examine the issues in dispute and to issue a recommendation, said Ms Ryan.

"Despite our procedural agreement, Irish Shell - which is a hugely profitable company - has flatly refused to await the outcome of the Court's deliberations before attempting to dismantle terms and conditions which will see our members lose out on a five-year pension credit; an early retirement option at age fifty and a defined benefit pension scheme.

"Our members have given years of dedicated service to Irish Shell and will not stand back and see their retirement income decimated while the parent company - Royal Dutch Shell - announced only two weeks ago that it was banking €1.5 million an hour profit.

"We have indicated our willingness to reach a negotiated settlement on the issues which are of concern to our members and would once again call on Irish Shell to commit to maintaining the status quo while negotiations continue on the issue of pensions, share option schemes and staffing levels.

"SIPTU has a collective agreement with Irish Shell so we want a commitment from them that they will see the negotiations through before signing off on the sale of company shares to Topaz. Unfortunately management would give us no such commitment and so we were left with no alternative but to issue notice of industrial action" she concluded.

Editor's Note:

Topaz comprises a small consortium of investors. It will continue to use the Shell brand under trade mark licence agreements. Shell Ireland director, Frank Bergin and members of the senior management team are to take a minority shareholding in Topaz. According to Shell this is a sale of company shares and not a transfer of undertakings. The deal is to be completed by November 30 2005.





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