SIPTU representatives have called on management in the Boston Scientific Plant in Clonmel, county Tipperary, to accept a Labour Court recommendation recognising the right of workers in the medical devices manufacturing facility to trade union representation. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Alan O’Leary, said: “The Labour Court has ruled in favour of workers in this facility being allowed to be represented by their union for the purposes of collectively bargaining on pay. However, management has refused to implement the recommendation.“Hundreds of workers in the Boston Scientific Plant in Clonmel are SIPTU members. Many joined following an attempt by management to unfairly deduct 20% from their shift pay. Management attempted to make this cut despite many of the workers earning less than the living wage of €11.70 per hour.“Organised in their union the workers fought back against this attack, with more than 400 signing a petition indicating their opposition to the move. The company backed down and issued an apology to the workers. However, new entrants are still on low pay, earning approximately €22,000 yearly. Other workers have endured a pay cap that has meant they have not received a pay rise in seven years.”He added: “We are calling on Boston Scientific management to immediately accept the Labour Court recommendation and engage with the union to negotiate proper rates of pay for our members. SIPTU has reached numerous pay agreements with similarly profitable multinationals within the medical devices industry. For example we recently successfully concluded a 7.5% pay rise over three years for our members in Medtronic in Galway where the union has almost 2,000 members.” SIPTU Pharmaceutical Chemical and Medical Devices Sector President, Jemma Mackey, said: “The union has also successfully campaigned against the use by the management of Boston Scientific of zero hours contracts which provide workers with no security of income or hope of obtaining loans. Eventually and begrudgingly management gave in and made permanent more than 120 workers on these zero hours contracts.”
SIPTU calls on Boston Scientific in Clonmel to accept Labour Court recommendation
