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Element Six workers move closer to industrial action
POSSIBLE strike action at Element Six moved a step closer after SIPTU confirmed it would not enter conciliation talks as long as the company claims it "can't afford" to put a better redundancy offer on the table.
In a letter to staff at the troubled Shannon industrial diamond maker, formerly De Beers, Element Six chief executive Cyrus Jilla presented a stark choice to employees of accepting the current severance package and rescue plan or risk the closure of the entire manufacturing and distribution operation with the loss of 370 jobs, as well as reduced redundancy and company pension contributions.
Amid accusations, denied by the unions, that staff were engaging in a "blue flu" action and not working as normal, Mr Jilla criticised what he described as a "vocal minority" of staff opposed to the plan. "Currently, the message is being sent to us by some of you is that these longterm jobs and plan are not wanted.
"This seems extraordinary in these current times," Mr Jilla stated, adding that if there was any industrial action or talks at Labour Relations Commission were not entered into within two weeks, that Element Six would proceed with the original plan announced last month, where 370 would lose their jobs.
Speaking to the Limerick Leader this Wednesday, Mary O'Donnell, SIPTU Shannon branch, said there were many demands of increased productivity and changes to shifts and other work practices in the rescue plan proposed by the company. A proposed wage freeze until 2011 made this even more unpalatable for longserving staff. SIPTU would discuss the plan with the company but only after the Element Six executive abandons its position that it cannot afford to improve the 8m redundancy pot currently on offer.
"We don't consider it appropriate to go into conciliation if the company continues to claim it can't improve the terms. We don't see much point negotiating with people who can't move. The whole point of conciliation is to get movement on both sides," she said.
SIPTU has condemned Mr Jilla's characterisation of opposition to the plan being spearheaded by "a vocal minority" of disaffected workers, pointing out that 99 per cent of its members had backed a ballot for industrial action only last week.
The TEEU secured a 100 per cent mandate for industrial action; nonunion staff also backed improved redundancy; while a core of 40 local managers had written to the company only last week, Ms O'Donnell said, to treat the issue of redundancy as a priority.
Mr Jilla's letter, Ms O'Donnell said, had only further alienated staff. "It was couched in terms of 'what ungrateful wretches you all are' and as you can imagine that has only added to the sense of demoralisation and distrust in there at the moment," she said.
Rather than meet the company at the LRC, workers could move in coming days towards industrial action. Whether this would be in the form of a work-torule, work stoppage or strike would be up to a committee of Shannon workers, Ms O'Donnell said.
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