Strike to Commence at Blarney Woollen Mills, Bunratty, on Monday, 11 January 2009
Wednesday 13 January 2010Staff at the Blarney Woollen Mills, Bunratty, are to take strike action from Monday, 11 January next over the way in which two chefs have been made compulsorily redundant at the Bunratty restaurant. According to Brian Higgins, Mandate Trade Union’s Divisional Organiser for the Mid-West, the strike will continue on an indefinite basis until the issues involved are resolved.
Mr Higgins explained that the two individuals being made redundant, Chef/Manager, John Quinn, and Second Chef, Aidan Guiry, have given 12 years and 9.5 years service respectively to the company
“At a meeting with the company on 14 December last, they informed us that they were making John and Aidan redundant as part of a rationalisation programme. The company has only offered statutory redundancy and have not been prepared to negotiate on an enhanced redundancy payment,” Brian Higgins said.
“The company informed us that they would be combining roles and functions with the Bunratty Hotel which is part of the Blarney Woollen Mills Group. In this context, the union indicated to Blarney Woollen Mills that it would be prepared to consider redeployment to the hotel, given that the two chefs being made redundant had longer service than the chefs employed in the Bunratty Hotel. In this regard, it’s worth noting that the company handbook states that redundancies will be on a last in, first out basis, with key employees being retained to maintain an efficient operation.”
Brian Higgins said that despite the representations made by the Mandate Trade Union, on 21 December last, the company confirmed that it intended to proceed with the two compulsory redundancies.
“It would seem that the company has not adhered to its own policy in that the two employees selected are key people and they also have the longest service. This is simply not acceptable to the union and its members and this is why they have voted to take strike action from Monday next.”
