Roadstone Wood and SIPTU representatives are meeting at the Labour Court this Thursday in an attempt to reach agreement for the resumption of production at the Bunratty quarry. Work there has been suspended for three weeks as part of a nationwide dispute.
Proposed cost-cutting measure by the company are central to the dispute. Ironically, Roadstone are celebrating their 65th anniversary this week and this is only the second industrial action of note within that period.
If both parties reach a decision, it is expected that a recommendation may be put to workers at the weekend, which could go for ballot early next week.
General operatives and truck drivers have been protesting outside the Bunratty plant with official SIPTU placards for the past three weeks.
According to SIPTU, workers will lose almost €20,000 in their wages over the next five years if a new cost-cutting plan is introduced against the workers’ wishes.
SIPTU shop steward, Jim Lynch, explained a decision was taken years ago to make a type of bonus payment every November, instead of increasing their hourly rate, which would have an impact on overtime when it was previously available.
Mr Lynch said 2011 was the last time workers in the plant got their full annual bonus payment of almost €5,000. He pointed out workers were only paid about 11% of this bonus in 2012 and 2013 and had entered into negotiations to try improve this payment, which has effectively become part of their wages.
He said the union had requested a 70% payment of the bonus for 2014, with a recommendation that both sides would re-enter talks the following year. However, this wasn’t acceptable to the company.
This week the company made a slight increase in its initial offer, providing 25% of the bonus, of which 14% would be subject to some independent agreeable criteria.
Under the new terms, this would increase to 35% in 2015, 50% in 2016 and 65% in 2017. It is offered to pay 100% of the bonus in 2018.
According to Roadstone managing director, Larry Byrne, the effect of this dispute has been to significantly worsen the loss-making situation of the company in the current year.
In a recent letter to workers, Mr Byrne pointed out customers have been forced to obtain supply from competitors. “Prior to agreeing to go to the Labour Court, the company requested that people return to work in advance of the Labour Court hearing,” he stated.
In another letter to SIPTU dated June 30, Mr Byrne admitted the industrial action is causing considerable hardship to the company. “Over the last 11 days, many of our customers are continuing to be supplied with building materials from our competitors, many of whom who are non-unionised.
“When the current action concludes, it is likely that many of these projects may not be regained by the company.
“With the continued loss of projects, we are increasing the risk of moving to short-time in certain locations on resumption of work,” he added.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.