Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams visited the Vita Cortex workers sit-in on the Kinsale Road, Cork, yesterday to express his solidarity with their campaign to secure agreed redundancy payments.

A delegation of the workers discussed their campaign with the Sinn Féin president. The workers welcomed his pledge of continuing support until they secure the 0.9 of a week per year of service ex-gratia payments that their employer still owes them. He said that Vita Cortex owner, Jack Ronan, should meet his responsibilities and pay the full amount owed.

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Vita Cortex worker Jim Power said: "We were all delighted to meet him. He seems like a very down to earth man. We welcome support and help from anybody who feels they can play a role."

On Tuesday the Vita Cortex workers acknowledged an acceptance by the company's owners to finally engage in meaningful talks aimed a reaching a just conclusion to the long running dispute.

The workers have been staging a sit in at the Vita Cortex plant since the 16th December when their employer, Jack Ronan, closed the facility without providing his employees with their agreed redundancy payments.

(CD/GK)