The ballot by SIPTU workers at the Dairygold plants in north Cork, which could lead to a mandate for industrial action, will be counted later today. Seán Mac Connell, Agriculture Correspondent, reports.
Dairygold management had sought 500 redundancies from its workforce before Christmas and, while it achieved most of the required numbers, the union has claimed that some of its members have been forced out of work.
The union has also claimed the company is not abiding by agreed industrial relations procedures and changes in work practices have been demanded by management without consultation. It has been balloting its members over the past three days despite a plea by management not to do so.
Negotiations have continued in Cork between the sides through the Labour Relations Commission and the Joint Negotiation Forum, which met yesterday.
Management circulated a letter to staff, saying the cost-cutting programme had been a painful exercise but the company had a future worth fighting for.
The newsletter also referred to the crucial need to realise the benefits of the "rightsizing programme", saying "it was vital now that the company realise the full benefits of all of the cost-savings expected from that process.
"If we do not become more efficient as a result of the rightsizing process, the whole initiative will have been in vain," it said.
"This all adds up to a bright future for Dairygold. Just a few short months ago we stood on a knife-edge. Our costs were too high and were rising - the market-leading position we had developed in a number of areas was at risk and the society had become uncompetitive.
"Now, as a result of the cost- reduction programme put in place," the newsletter said, "we are again in a position to build on our strengths."