A DEADLOCK AT two biopharmaceutical plants in Co Cork has been broken following anger attempts to cut 20% of the pay for a number of workers.

Technicians, including electricians and other tradespeople, took industrial action over the plans by management at the science and technology equipment supplier Merck Millipore at its plant in Blarney.

The action, which began last month, was set to see workers down tools on two days this week before a deal was struck between the management and trade union Connect.

The union also criticised what it described as unilateral changes to terms and conditions for workers at the German company’s plant in Carrigtwohill.

But peace broke out between the two sides after Merck agreed to set up negotiations with an independent moderator.

Mark Dobbyn of Connect told The Journal this was a “significant” move as the trade union had sought for much of the past decade to have a similar process set up to discuss changes the company was planning on introducing to workers’ terms.

“There was going to be 20% taken away from our members in Blarney, with no engagement around it at all. Our members balloted for industrial action overwhelmingly but it’s frustrating to end up in situations where our members have no alternative,” Dobbyn said.

“There’s now a process that allows issues to be raised collectively, which was never there previously. And if they’re not resolved the company brings in a mutually agreeable third partner – before these facilitators were whoever the company wanted,” Dobbyn said.

Dobbyn added that Merck Milipore had traditionally refused to union recognition, resulting in a case brought by Connect and Siptu to the Labour Court in 2022, which found that the company should engage with the unions.

Dobbyn added that the unilateral changes by management in the past had seen some benefits bestowed on the workforce, including positive changes to paternity leave and fertility benefits – but he said that the latest plans showed the importance of discussions with staff.

This week saw a new €150m filtration manufacturing facility opened at the plant’s site at Blarney Business Park.

The company said this was part of a €440m investment committed across its Cork operations in Blarney and Carrigtwohill.