Over 300 people gathered outside Dáil Eireann yesterday to support the campaign by the Vita Cortex workers for their agreed redundancy payments.

The crowd gave a rapturous welcome to 14 Vita Cortex workers who travelled from Cork to attend the demonstration. Their 18 colleagues remained at the company’s plant on the Kinsale Road, Cork, where they have been maintaining a sit in since 16th December.

The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, met the workers during the protest and expressed her criticism at the behaviour of the company owner.

Joan Burton also said that her department would honour its responsibilities to the workers under redundancy and insolvency legislation.

"It is very disappointing to see an employer, you know, not facing up to the commitments that workers with the kind of service that workers here have. As Minister of social protection I will be determined to ensure that the workers get all of their entitlements under the redundancy and the insolvency legislation, we are responsible for paying out. I hope as well that the process with the LRC produces a positive outcome," said Joan Burton.

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"We're all just overwhelmed at the support we’ve received. It’s been hard over recent weeks but the support has been amazing and kept us going," said Vita Cortex worker, Catherine McCabe.

Addressing the protest SIPTU Organiser Anne Egar said: "This fight is going to go on. These workers are not going anywhere until they get what they are owed. No worker wants to spend Christmas Day sitting in a dark cold empty factory, sleeping on the floor without being sure they are not going away until they get what the owners of the factory owe them and promised them."

The lunch-time demonstration was organised by the SIPTU Manufacturing Division and supported by other trade unions including Unite, Mandate, the Communications Workers Union and the TEEU.

Several trade union leaders including ICTU General Secretary David Begg, SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor, CWA General Secretary, Steve Fitzpatrick and TEEU President Frank Keoghan attended.

TEEU General Secretary Eamon Devoy said: "The Vita Cortex workers are extremely brave and I think they are showing the way to many other workers in the way they are dealing with unfair treatment by their employer. My union is proud to support them."

(CD/GK)