Pickets are due to be placed at three AIBP plants this morning in Clones, Rathkeale and Waterford. They are being mounted by members of SIPTU and the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union, who want redundancy packages because of extended layoffs and short-time working.
The loss of earnings is due to the impact of BSE. Ironically, the foot-and-mouth crisis has created some extra work within the AIBP group, but most of these employees have not been able to make up the loss of earnings.
The SIPTU national industrial secretary, Mr John Kane, said yesterday: "Short-time working and layoffs have been a continuing feature of the beef industry for some years. The workers feel that it is now time they are given the option of leaving the industry with a modest severance package, rather than living in hope that security of employment within the beef industry will improve."
The unions plan to extend the pickets on Wednesday to other AIBP plants at Bandon, Cahir and Nenagh, which are still busy because of foot-and-mouth.
About 650 workers are employed by AIBP in the six plants. The ATGWU represents workers at Clones, who had hoped it would reopen as a result of the Cooley cull. However, the Ravensdale plant has been reopened to cope with the work.
