SIPTU shop stewards representing workers at Kerry Group plants have called on the CEO of the company, Stan McCarthy, to intervene in a dispute concerning redundancy payments for BCD Travel workers. The dispute results from the continued refusal of BCD Travel, which manages corporate travel arrangements for the Kerry Group, to honour a Labour Court recommendation concerning redundancy terms for seven women.BCD Travel made the workers, who were based in the Kerry Group head office in Tralee, Co. Kerry, redundant in April 2013 as part of a company restructuring plan. Following a Labour Court hearing they were awarded an additional two weeks per year of service redundancy payment. BCD Travel has refused to honour the Labour Court recommendation.SIPTU Sector Organiser, Andy McCarthy, said: “These seven women worked solely on the Kerry Group contract and were based on site at the Kerry Group Head Office in Tralee. They rarely interacted with management of BCD Travel and dealt almost exclusively with Kerry Group management and staff.“The representatives of the Kerry Group direct workforce employed in plants in Monaghan, Wicklow, Waterford, Cork and Kerry are disappointed that these workers find themselves in this situation. It is unacceptable that a third party contractor used by the Kerry Group is refusing to honour the terms of a Labour Court recommendation.”SIPTU Services Division Organiser, John King, said: “The SIPTU worker representatives are calling on the Kerry Group CEO, Stan McCarthy, to engage with these seven women to ensure the matter is bought to an amicable conclusion.”
Kerry Group shop stewards call for intervention in BCD Travel dispute
