Vita Cortex set for LRC mediation
04 April 2012 16:04
The owners of the Vita Cortex manufacturing plant have agreed to enter into mediation talks with the picketing former workers.
The former employees have been occupying the foam manufacturing plant at Kinsale Road Cork for 111 days in a dispute over redundancy payments.
SIPTU, who represent the majority of the 32 workers, welcomed the decision of the owners to enter the mediation process proposed by the LRC a number of weeks ago.
SIPTU divisional organiser, Gerry McCormack said that it is understood that the LRC will commence immediately to set up the mediation process through which the parties can engage.
The issue has been complicated by the fact that debts of Vita Cortex owner Jack Ronan are controlled by NAMA. It was reported over the weekend that NAMA had offered to release funds which would allow Ronan to fund redundancy payments.
The Vita Cortex workers have received support from a diverse range of public figures including Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, former Irish international footballer Paul McGrath, actor Cillian Murphy, human rights activist Noam Chomsky, former President Mary Robinson and most recently boxing champion Katie Taylor.
