A protest involving 3,000 workers from chemical and pharmaceutical plants around Munster is being planned in support of 160 employees recently laid off by American firm ADM in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork.
The Chemical and Pharmaceutical Forum of union shop stewards yesterday expressed solidarity with employees at the troubled citric acid plant. They plan to organise a demonstration later this month in Carrigaline, Co Cork, to highlight the situation at the nearby facility.
Staff members at ADM were shut out by management on March 14th following a dispute with unions about the introduction of a restructuring plan. The employees are still continuing to report for duty at the plant but are being refused entry. The restructuring plan is thought to be linked to shift structures.
Workers claim they were locked out by management because they refused to undertake new working arrangements which were foisted upon them without consultation. The workforce said it had been left in limbo with no idea of whether jobs could be saved.
Cork South Central Fianna Fáil TD Mr Batt O'Keefe has argued that the introduction of new procedures without staff consultation was contrary to all human resource procedures. He said there were rumours of an over- production of citric acid on the world market.
ADM said the decision to lay off workers was forced on it because of the failure of SIPTU members to accept the restructuring plan. It said the plant's future could only be guaranteed through new work arrangements but SIPTU said proposed roster and shift changes were not negotiated with the union.