The threat of industrial action by workers at nine Guinness plants in Ireland was averted yesterday after management and unions reached agreement in principle on issues concerning plans to cut 290 jobs in Dundalk.
Five of the six unions within Guinness have already begun balloting for a strike, due to begin on September 15th.
The company stressed it was anxious not to create any false hopes following yesterday's agreement. The five unions which have begun balloting are the ATGWU and SIPTU and the craft unions, the TEEU, AEEU and UCATT. The Guinness Staff Union, with the largest number of members in the areas affected - up to 1,000 - has not begun to ballot its members but had been expected to follow suit had progress not been made in yesterday's talks. As part of the agreement in principle arrived at during seven hours of talks before the LRC, those unions that have held ballots will not declare the results so as to allow negotiations to proceed. Management has postponed plans to cut 200 packaging jobs in McArdles and 90 brewery jobs in the Great Northern Brewery in Dundalk while the talks continue.
The Joint Union Forum (JUF) had wanted Guinness to lift its threat to close the packaging plant and downsize the brewery before any negotiations could begin.
Last night, JUF spokesman Mr John King said it believed Guinness would not implement any work changes without agreement being reached through normal industrial relations procedures. "Hard work has still to be done but the immediate threat has been lifted," he said. However, the official position of Guinness remains unchanged and company negotiators will clarify its position over the weekend.