FORMER THOMAS Cook employees occupying the company’s premises on Grafton Street, Dublin, said last night they were prepared to defy a court order compelling them to leave.
About 40 workers remained in the premises overnight though High Court judge Mr Justice Michael Peart issued an order of attachment that they be arrested.
His order means those remaining on the premises face being arrested by gardaí today and brought before the judge at 2pm, where they may be charged with contempt of court.
Mr Justice Peart’s decision came after a marathon day which involved three separate court hearings and a 7pm deadline to comply with a court order first made on Saturday.
The mood among the former staff occupying the premises was buoyant in the morning when a rally was held outside the premises. Among those showing solidarity with the workers were Lord Mayor of Dublin Emer Costello and Labour TD Joanna Tuffy.
However, the ex-workers are now facing the certainty that they will be arrested with the possibility of being either fined or jailed for contempt of court.
Antoinette Shevlin (36), who has worked in Thomas Cook for 10 years, said they were “terrified” at the prospect of being arrested.
Several ex-staff broke down in tears following an emotional day when the realisation of what had occurred in court was conveyed to them. “It didn’t have to come to this. We are all united. We feel we have been backed into a corner by Thomas Cook.
“We fear that if we leave, we will have no bargaining power,” she said. “We know we are breaking the law, but all we wanted was a decent redundancy deal.”
The ex-workers occupied the Grafton Street premises on Friday after a decision by Thomas Cook management to shut it and its other Irish shop, Direct Holidays on Talbot Street, with immediate effect. A total of 77 staff are being made redundant. They are holding out for eight weeks pay per year of service. The company is offering them only five weeks.
The ex-workers’ decision was in defiance of the advice of their union, the TSSA (Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association).
Several members of staff of the union also defied the advice of the TSSA’s general secretary Gerry Doherty to vacate the premises and remained there overnight.
Mr Doherty said that once the position became clear, he conveyed to his members the legal advice he had received and the consequences of ignoring it.
He said: “Our position is the TSSA has never disobeyed the rule of law in any land.
“Despite receiving that advice, those occupying the building have decided to remain in occupation. Because judicial matters are ongoing, I’m unable on legal advice to say any more.”
Ms Costello said she was concerned about the welfare of those occupying the premises who were nearly all women, two of whom are pregnant.
“They had to make their protest and they have certainly done that. I would hope that Thomas Cook would now use the normal industrial relations process to negotiate a better settlement with them,” she said.
A spokesman for Thomas Cook declined to comment last night, but referred to a statement made in court yesterday and to the workers in a letter.
