Work stoppage at Carroll's in Tullamore suspended as management agrees to talks

The trade union SIPTU has suspended a 12-hour work stoppage that was due to take place at Carroll's Cuisine in Tullamore tomorrow (Saturday) after management at the company agreed to enter negotiations with the union next week.

SIPTU said the talks would seek to secure a collective agreement that would deliver improvements in pay and conditions for workers at the meat-processing plant.

The development comes after SIPTU members at the plant staged a work stoppage earlier today, following on from earlier 12-hour work stoppages on Sunday and Monday last.

Neil McGowan, SIPTU Manufacturing Divisional Organiser, said: "Today’s movement by management to agree to talks with a focus on reaching an agreement and indicating a willingness to recognise the union as representing their workforce is a major step forward.

"We still have a long way to go, but we are hopeful that a collective agreement dealing with all outstanding issues in relation to pay, annual-leave entitlements, sick-pay and other conditions for workers can be secured in the near future.

"The breakthrough comes after three days of industrial action by production-line workers over pay, conditions and the right to collective bargaining.

"Credit for this progress lies entirely with our members in the plant, who stood firm and united in taking the industrial action necessary to move management into a position where it became serious about resolving these longstanding workplace issues.

"The support of the local community and the solidarity shown by the wider trade-union movement have also been crucial in getting us to a point where management at Carroll’s Cuisine have formally acknowledged the union’s role and committed to engaging next week in negotiations guided by a genuine collective-bargaining process.

"These talks will focus on the staff’s longstanding demands for fair wages and clear recognition of their right to be represented by a trade union."

He added: "While the suspension of the stoppage acknowledges management’s new willingness to engage with our union, the dispute is not settled.

"We will enter the negotiations in a positive manner with a clear focus on improving pay and terms and conditions for our members, we have come too far not see a fair agreement."

SIPTU said negotiations between its representatives and Carroll’s Cuisine management were scheduled to commence early next week.