SIPTU members have served notice of strike action at Milne Foods in Birr, co. Offaly, due to the company’s failure to implement a Labour Court recommendation in relation to workers' conditions of employment. The strike action is scheduled to commence on Thursday, 11th July, and follows the company’s failure to adhere to a Labour Court recommendation that management meet with the workers' representatives to discuss improvements to pay and conditions.SIPTU Organiser, Michael Browne, said: “The workers have been left with no option but to take industrial action after they exhausted all other avenues open to them to initiate constructive dialogue with the management at Milne Foods.“Management has repeatedly refused to engage with the workers' chosen representatives to discuss the improvement of their wages to industry norms and the restoration of an overtime premium and the introduction of a shift premium.”He added: “Last year, when the company initially refused to engage with the workers' representatives the issues were referred to the Labour Relations Commission. The company refused to engage with the LRC and the issues were then referred to the Labour Court earlier this year. Management failed to attend the Labour Court hearing in February.“It has become clear that company has no intention of implementing the Labour Court recommendation that the workers pay claims should be met. In these circumstances the workers had no option but to serve strike notice which was endorsed by a ballot earlier this year.”
Strike notice served at Milne Foods in County Offaly
