SIPTU representatives have written to politicians in Cork to highlight the continued failure of medical devices manufacturer, DePuy Synthes, to respect the right of its workers to be represented by a union and their dissatisfaction with the arbitrary nature of pay increases in the company. 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. “Despite this, management at the company has refused to engage with SIPTU representatives. This situation has become all the more unacceptable due to the arbitrary nature in which pay increases have been paid at the company by way of an individual review system about which our members have expressed numerous concerns. “Some of our members did not receive an increase earlier this year due to missing time or not hitting performance review targets. They are not happy with the arbitrary nature of the individual reviews affecting these pay increases. “In September, management announced a 2% cost of living pay increase to help staff with rising bills. However, for our members who did not receive an annual increase, this falls well below the wage rises in similar workplaces. “Management at the company is also ignoring its own stated policies in relation to the rights of its employees. These include a right to freedom of association and a human rights policy which references recognising unions. He added: “SIPTU representatives have written to a number of senior politicians in Cork, including the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, to outline the concerns expressed by our members employed by DePuy Synthes. We have further requested urgent meetings with these politicians to discuss how these issues can be resolved.”
SIPTU writes to Cork politicians to highlight DePuy Synthes unfair treatment of staff
