SIPTU members at the Kerry Foods plant in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, will ballot for strike action on Friday (23rd February) if management refuses to remove a threat to make 31 workers redundant without agreement. SIPTU Organiser, Jim McViegh, said: ‘On Thursday, 15th February, our members balloted on company proposals to make 31 members of the workforce compulsorily redundant. In this vote they overwhelmingly rejected the proposals. Our members have instead asked the company to agree to a voluntary redundancy scheme and a fair package for those who wish to leave. “As a consequence, we will be balloting our members for strike action on Friday, 23rd February. SIPTU representatives will be meeting management between now and then to try and reach an agreement that would allow us to avoid strike action.”