SIPTU representatives met with workers employed by the medical devices manufacturer, DePuy Synthes, to discuss their fight for union recognition in the St Vincent’s GAA Club, Knocknaheeney, Cork, on Saturday,18th June. SIPTU Organiser, Robbie Purfield, said: “Many workers at the DePuy Synthes plant in Ringaskiddy, county Cork, are SIPTU members. They have sought to exercise their right to collectively bargain with their employer and have had their claim to be represented by SIPTU in these talks supported in a Labour Court recommendation issued in 2020. “DePuy Synthes is part of the wider Johnson & Johnson group of companies. This group has a published ‘Position on Employment and Labour Rights’ which states: ‘We maintain constructive dialogue with employees’ freely chosen representatives and bargain with them in good faith. An employee’s choice regarding joining an association or labour union must not impact the employee’s employment or an individual’s application for employment.’ “Indeed, SIPTU has a working relationship with several other companies in the Johnson & Johnson group for the purposes of collective bargaining.” “Despite this, management at the company has refused to engage with SIPTU representatives. This is a completely unacceptable situation and is a gross breach of the right of these workers to collectively agree their terms and conditions of employment with their employer.” He added: “SIPTU members will continue to campaign on this issue until their right to organise in their union is recognised. We are also contacting local elected representatives to call on them to support our campaign to have the Labour Court recommendation on this issue respected by the company.”
SIPTU members campaign for union recognition in DePuy Synthes in Cork
