The week-long occupation of the Lowe Alpine sportswear factory in Tullamore ended yesterday after the company agreed to pay the full terms of a Labour Court redundancy settlement to its 200 employees.
The outcome was welcomed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, who visited the picket on Thursday and expressed support for the predominantly female workforce.
The company, which is owned by the British multinational William Baird Ltd, had offered only 2-1/2 weeks' pay for each year of service, plus statutory entitlements. The court awarded four weeks, plus £75 to each employee and statutory entitlements.
The SIPTU regional secretary, Mr Mike Jennings, welcomed the outcome, which came yesterday as SIPTU picketing was about to begin. Mr Cowen expressed his thanks to SIPTU and its shop stewards for the "disciplined and constructive manner" in which they conducted the dispute.