Strike action at Carroll’s Cuisine in Tullamore, County Offaly, has been suspended following management’s agreement to enter negotiations with union representatives this week. These talks aim to secure a collective agreement that will deliver improvements in pay and conditions for workers at the meat-processing plant.
SIPTU Manufacturing Divisional Organiser, Neil McGowan, said: “The movement by management to agree to talks with a focus on reaching an agreement and indicating a willingness to recognise the Union as representing their workforce is a major step forward. We still have a long way to go, but we are hopeful that a collective agreement dealing with all outstanding issues in relation to pay, annual-leave entitlements, sick-pay and other conditions for workers can be secured in the near future.
“The breakthrough comes after three days of industrial action by production-line workers over pay, conditions and the right to collective bargaining. Credit for this progress lies entirely with our members in the plant, who stood firm and united in taking the industrial action necessary to move management into a position where it became serious about resolving these longstanding workplace issues.
“The support of the local community and the solidarity shown by the wider trade union movement have also been crucial in getting us to a point where management at Carroll’s is now willing to negotiate.”
He added: “While the suspension of the stoppage acknowledges management’s new willingness to engage with our Union, the dispute is not settled. We will enter the negotiations in a positive manner with a clear focus on improving pay and terms and conditions for our members. We have come too far not to see a fair agreement.”