SIPTU members at the SK biotek pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Swords, County Dublin, will begin a campaign of industrial action this evening (Tuesday, 29th October) following the refusal of management to attend the Workplace Relations Commission. SIPTU Organiser, Jim Fuery, said: “This dispute relates to the failure of the company to respect the terms of a collective agreement. This collective agreement was part of a protection of employees on a transfer of undertakings (TUPE) agreement which was concluded when the plant was brought under new management in December, 2017. “This agreement guaranteed our members terms and conditions until 2022. “SIPTU members in SK biotek previously held industrial action over four days in early October. These members will engage in further industrial action for a two-week period starting on Tuesday, 29th October, at 8.30 p.m. and ending on Tuesday, 12th November. During this period, SIPTU members will conduct two-hour rolling stoppages, pickets outside the entrance to the plant and an overtime ban.” He added: “SIPTU members in SK biotek have been left with no option other than to escalate this dispute. Our members were forced into taking this action as a last resort because of the intransigence of management which has refused to attend conciliation conferences at the WRC in breach of the collective agreement.” There are 87 SIPTU members working in the pharmaceutical ingredients plant in Swords.
SIPTU members in SK biotek in Swords to begin industrial action today
