Press Release

SIPTU members to attend LRC talks on Vita Cortex dispute

Date Released: 11 January 2012

SIPTU has agreed to attend exploratory talks at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) with a view to finding a resolution to the dispute over redundancy payments at the Vita Cortex manufacturing plant in Cork.

Earlier today, the LRC confirmed to SIPTU that the owners of Vita Cortex had agreed to attend the discussions on Tuesday (17the January). In a statement the LRC said that it had agreed to chair “exploratory discussions so we can help the parties to clarify the facts of the situation and against that background to explore with the parties what potential there is for finding a mutual way forward.”

SIPTU Organiser, Ann Egar, said that the workers had agreed to attend the LRC discussions and that the sit-in at the plant will continue until a satisfactory resolution to the dispute is found. She said that the protest rally tomorrow (Thursday 12^th January)  in support of the Vita Cortex workers at Dáil Eireann will also proceed, as planned.

“We have agreed to attend for exploratory talks at the LRC on Tuesday and hopefully find a way to resolve this dispute. In the meantime, the sit-in at the plant will continue and the planned protest at the Dáil tomorrow will proceed as planned,” she said.

The protest organised by the SIPTU manufacturing division will commence at 1.00 p.m. and will be addressed by the Vita Cortex workers. The protest has been supported by other trade unions including Unite, the TEEU and Mandate as well as other political and community organisations.

A press conference will be held in Buswells Hotel, Kildare Street, immediately after the protest at 2.30 p.m.