Cork city centre came to a halt on Saturday afternoon as over 5,000 people marched in solidarity with the Vita Cortex workers.

The march began outside the SIPTU offices at Connolly Hall, Lapps Quay, at 2.00 p.m., and was described by Gardaí as the largest protest in Cork in recent years.

The people of Cork applauded the Vita Cortex workers as the march made its way along Patrick's Street ending with a rally on Grand Parade.

Addressing the rally, SIPTU Organiser Anne Egar thanked the Cork Council of Trade Unions (CCTU) for organising the event and the people of Cork for their "support from Day One" for the workers in their struggle to secure their agreed redundancy terms.

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Anne Egar said the Vita Cortex workers had shown "stamina and principle" in pursuing their fight for justice and would not succumb. She added that Vita Cortex owner, Jack Ronan, should “pay his bills and not expect everyone else to pick up his tab.”

Vita Cortex worker, Martina Anderson, told the crowd that the fight to secure their agreed redundancy payments had been hard on the workers and their families but they were determined to see justice done.

SIPTU General Secretary, Joe O'Flynn, pledged the union's support for the workers and said all was being done to bring a just conclusion to the dispute. CCTU president Anne Piggott spoke of the workers resolve in the face of an employer who refused to honour his obligations.

The Vita Cortex workers are entering their third month occupying their former workplace on the Kinsale Road, Cork. The facility was closed on the 16th December with company management claiming they could not honour the workers agreed redundancy terms.

The Vita Cortex workers are seeking payment of an agreed ex-gratia redundancy package of 0.9 weeks per year of service. The full amount needed to fund these payments is just over €370,000.

(CD/GK)