Over 180 workers at the Baileys bottling plant in Clondalkin, Dublin are due to go on strike on Sunday.
The dispute centres on the company’s alleged refusal to meet SIPTU, the union representing the workers, to discuss compensation for loss of potential overtime earnings, the introduction of fixed-contract workers to cover overtime and pay restructuring.
"Our members have contributed in no small way to the success of this company but rather than see the workers share in the profitability, management recruited fixed term contract workers at a lower rate of pay than our members," said SIPTU Branch Secretary, Ms Anne Speed.
"When we objected to this, they did a deal directly with the workers involved and gave them greater flexibility and a pay rise. The formula which management put forward for compensation - and which they described as ‘non-negotiable’ fell far short of our members’ expectations, as did the recommendation from the Labour Court," said Ms Speed.
She added that the management at Baileys seemed determined that the dispute should escalate to full-scale industrial action.
"At this stage our members feel they have no other choice but to take industrial action," she said.
