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Dublin: 11 °C Wednesday 22 May, 2013

Vita Cortex workers say they will escalate protest

The workers, who have been occupying the company for 135 days say they are disgusted at the rejection of resolution proposals.

Image: Photocall Ireland/File photo

THIRTY-TWO VITA Cortex workers who have been occupying the facility in Cork for 135 days say they’re “disgusted” at the rejection of resolution proposals by the company’s owners.

The SIPTU members say that the company has rejected the guidance issued by independent mediators, and instead has “issued a statement which contains a number of untruths and legally questionable assertions”.

SIPTU Organiser Anne Egar said that the statement asserted that the union had sought to exclude some workers from an equitable share of any settlement, and also rejected the company’s claims that it cannot afford to pay redundancy.

In its statement, Vita Cortex said that it believes it has carried out all of its duties and obligations as required.

A tweet from the Vita Cortex workers’ Twitter account last night indicated that the protest is far from over:

Last week the company pulled out of the mediation process which was being overseen by the Labour Relations Commission, saying that there was still “significant distance” between the two parties.

The board and management of Vita Cortex also said that they had had difficulty in dealing with SIPTU on behalf of the workers.

The workers received a boost in support today after Twitter user and Father Ted writer Graham Linehan tweeted a link to a video about their protest to his 175,000 followers, saying “just catching up with this now, the story of the Vita Cortex workers”.



A general meeting of the Vita Cortex workers will take place on Monday 30 April.

Vita Cortex pulls out of LRC mediation process>

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Comments (14 Comments)

  • Solidarity to the Vita Cortex workers who have been treated so badly by their employers. Support to them in an escalation to their protest. “The great appear great because we are on our knees. Let us rise!” Jim Larkin.

    Reply
  • Disgusting treatment of these workers.

    Reply
  • It’s a sad reflection on everything that is wrong in this country that these people can be so wronged.

    They are a credit to out country. Ireland can get out of this crisis, when people start to stand tall, have self respect and not be walked over.

    This get up and go, do what it takes males me proud of my country.

    Reply
    • It’s sad to that this government makes it so hard to do business. My pal a plumber is in London working his heartbroken wife and family are at home. Being a business or own business in Ireland is a disaster and personal tragedy too.! Sean Quinn and many others would have worked their way and traded their way out of debt.

      Reply
  • jimbo 28/04/12 #

    Keep up the fight guys

    Reply
    • Keep strong people. Make the Union work for you. You decide what you want not what the Union feel you should be getting/entitled to. At the same time they can’t be asking for a figure that might be too unreasonable. You decide what’s best. Do not walk away. The management can and will find redundancy for you all. I am sure you are all tired and wish it was sorted.

      Keep positive, the support is still there for you all.

      Reply
  • feel so sorry for these guys to be just left there and now prob be forgotten about in the next few months and the guy that owned the company as in the words of christy moores song drive his big car and have holidays and prob smoke his big cigar …..these guys should not be left there and be given feck all for their years service for this company and why should the tax payer be picking up the tab all the time its wrong wrong wrong all workers should in solidarty stop their union fees ,,,,,,,because at the end of the day the union has achived notthing for thes guys i really thought the union had more back bone than this and would be able to compell some one some where to look after these guys

    Reply
  • jimbo 29/04/12 #

    19 thumbs down #sad
    has to be said, to those who gave thumbs down,see what its like if you ever (hopefully not) end up in the position they are in.
    the world is round remember that.

    Reply
    • Totally agree what a privileged life some people have and what you give out can come back to haunt you
      The very nest to the Protestors at VITE CORTEX yea are a CREDIT to the Nation yea are being treated disgracefully Keep strong and keep up the fight

      Reply
    • EMD 29/04/12 #

      I think it is more about who is saying it than what is said Jimbo! In other words the thumbs down are more than likely for you personally and most people have plenty of sympathy for the Vita Cortex campaign.

      Reply
  • jimbo 29/04/12 #

    EMD thats a stupid comment #facepalm

    Reply
  • I too jim am shocked at all the red thumbs on here .. So much for being a supportive nation !!!!

    Reply
  • Where’s the authorities support against the breaking of an employment agreement by an errant employer?

    Reply

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