Bid to secure redundancy money for bakery workers

As turmoil continues on the jobs front in Meath this week, workers at Spicer's Bakery in Navan are looking to get the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) involved in their fight for redundancy entitlements. A total of 15 staff at the bakery have been made redundant while a further 12 have been laid off, in a week where three other Navan retail outlets have closed their doors. The dispute at the Lagan Brick plant at Kingscourt continues with workers picketing the gateway to the premises and Bord na Mona have confirmed that the AES/Midland Waste operation in Navan is to be downsized, with trucks normally operating out of Navan being moved to a base in Dublin. Following the loss of 27 jobs at Spicer's Bakery in Navan, SIPTU and the Bakers Union are seeking a meeting with management in a bid to secure redundancy terms for those who have lost their jobs, A total of 15 workers at the bakery have been told they are being made redundant, while another 12 have been laid off. According to SIPTU official, John Dunne, the workers have been told the company cannot pay the redundancy money and they will have to go to the Insolvency Fund for their entitlements. "We want to get the Labour Relations Commission involved because if the workers have to wait for the Insolvency Fund, it could take up to a year for them to receive their entitlements," he said. Mr Dunne said that some of the workers have been employed by Spicer's for so long, they are entitled to up to eight weeks' notice. Cllr Joe Reilly said the response of government agencies to the loss of jobs at Spicer's Bakery had been totally inadequate and dismissive. "The company is struggling to survive. Some of those who have lost their jobs have given a lifetime of service to the company," he said. "At no point has any government agency or local government TDs offered to intervene in order to advise or support the company or its workforce. Many of the workers have never experienced unemployment or viewed the inside of a social welfare office." He called on the Department of Social Protection to invite the Spicer's worker to a meeting to inform them of their rights, entitlements and, in particular, redundancy rights. Meanwhile, workers at the Lagan Brick plant at Kingscourt are continuing their protest at the gates of the premises in advance of next Monday's reconvened meeting of the Labour Relations Commission. The workers last week voted to accept LRC prposals for an independent assessor to examine the company's accounts to confirm its financial status. The workers have also agreed to allow a maximum of 300 bricks out of the Kingscourt plant. John Regan of SIPTU in Navan said the protest will remain on the gate until Monday. He said the recent LRC proposal was a stepping stone and they would be examining the report from the assessor before Monday's meeting. Senator Thomas Byrne has welcomed the decision of workers and management at Lagan Brick to accept the recent LRC proposals. "Many Meath families are being greatly affected by this issue and I am delighted to see that progress is being made in ensuring an equitable and fair resolution to this period of industrial action," he said. Meanwhile, unions representing workers at the AES (former Midland Waste) premises in Navan have warned that proposals to move the truck depot from Navan to the Cookstown Industrial Estate in Tallaght will cause great hardship for the Navan-based drivers. SIPTU official, Oliver Mc Donagh, said that up to eight drivers who normally operate from Navan will have to drive to Tallaght each day to pick up their trucks, "The facility is not closing down, but operations in Navan are being scaled down, and this move will mean a lot of hardship for the Navan drivers," he said. "With losses of overtime, their wages aren't very high to begin with and the extra costs will prove very difficult," he added. A spokesperson for Bord Na Mona, which owns the AES operation, said it was making the changes to protect the long-term viability of the company and to protect jobs and market viability. He said there would be no compulsory redundancies.