Company warned by SIPTU of further work stoppages

A UNION has warned that further industrial action may be initiated this Thursday, April 14 following a recent one-day work stoppage, if a company doesn’t implement a Labour Court recommendation.

SIPTU members employed in LISK Ireland Ltd commenced a campaign of industrial action at its manufacturing plant in Gort on Monday, April 4, with a work stoppage that began at 8am and concluded at 12 midnight.

LISK Ireland’s 150,000 square foot facility is home to both manufacturing and sales of control devices, solenoids and solenoids valves since 1979.

SIPTU organiser Stephen Lavelle said members placed pickets at the entrance to the plant on Monday morning.

“Our members were left with no option but to begin industrial action due to a management refusal to respect a Labour Court recommendation that the company engage in negotiations with their union.

“Management has ignored several invitations from SIPTU representatives to discuss and resolve concerns its members have expressed in relation to their terms and conditions of employment.”

SIPTU Manufacturing Division Organiser, Greg Ennis, said this is the beginning of a campaign of industrial action, which will continue until the company respects the right of their members to be represented by their union representatives for the purposes of collective bargaining.

“The need to negotiate reasonable pay and terms and conditions of employment is a huge issue for these workers and their colleagues across Ireland.

“Rises in the cost of basic necessities due to a record rate of inflation, as well as other issues, are causing extreme hardship for many of our members and their families employed across the economy.”

He confirmed SIPTU representatives remain willing and available to meet with management to resolve this dispute.

However, if it continues to display intransigence, he warned there would be further industrial action by its members employed at its electronic component manufacturing plant, which at the time of writing is planned for April 14.

The union claimed the company has failed to engage with the Workplace Relations Commission, didn’t attend a Labour Court hearing and hasn’t implemented a Labour Court recommendation issued last November.

The Labour Court stated 59 workers wish to be represented by SIPTU on a collective basis. A Labour Court hearing took place virtually on October 28.

The company did not attend the virtual court hearing but wrote to the court to say that it was satisfied that the existing consultative mechanisms in the company operated effectively.

The court recommended the company should recognise the union for all industrial relations purposes as the chosen representative of those employees who join the union.

It also recommended both parties enter into negotiations with a view to concluding a collective agreement on the procedural arrangements within which normal industrial relations business can be conducted between them.

In a statement issued to the Clare Champion, GW Lisk in Gort confirmed it had been informed of a 16-hour planned work stoppage on Monday.

“The management team at Lisk Ireland are in regular engagement directly with employees through company meetings, small group discussions and one-to-one discussions.”

“GW Lisk has an 112-year history of direct, positive engagement with colleagues on both sides of the Atlantic, which it intends to continue.”