SIPTU members at Lagan Brick continue to seek an urgent meeting with the owners of the brick manufacturing plant in Kingscourt, county Cavan, to establish whether they will implement a Labour Court recommendation that could resolve the long running dispute.

The Court recommended that the 25 workers involved receive an enhanced severance package of one week's pay per year of service on top of the statutory entitlements of two weeks per year. The additional week’s pay per year of service was capped at €700 for day workers, €800 for craft workers and €1000 for night workers and should be paid over two phases, the Court said.

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It recommended that the second phase be paid after the removal of 50% of the brick’s currently retained on the company premises in Kingscourt or when the company changes ownership; or six weeks from the time of the first payment. It described the decision of the employer not to attend the court hearing decision as 'regrettable'.

The Court also recommended that the company favourably considers the workers concerned for future employment if and when the plant recommences production.

The recommendation is binding on the workers but not on the employer.

The workers have been picketing the plant since mid-December in pursuit of fair redundancy payments.

(CD/GK)