Cork Shows Support For Vita Cortex Workers

Over 400 people attended a demonstration in support of the Vita Cortex workers campaign to secure their agreed redundancy payments on Saturday 14th January in Cork.

The afternoon protest, organised by the Cork Council of Trade Unions, was held at the company’s plant on the Kinsale Road where 32 workers have maintained a sit-in for more than four weeks.

Among the crowd were several former La Senza workers, local politicians and trade unionists including President of Cork Council of Trade Unions, Ann Piggot, and the TEEU’s Pat Guilfoyle.


Addressing the crowd SIPTU General Secretary, Joe O'Flynn, said the struggle of the Vita Cortex workers was a "just cause". He called on the company's owner, Jack Ronan, to do the "decent thing" and ensure his former employees secured their agreed redundancy payments of 2.9 weeks per year of service.

Mr O'Flynn said it was a modest sum and if the owner thought the workers were going to go away after 30 days he was wrong.

SIPTU shop steward Sean Kelleher thanked the Vita Cortex workers many supporters throughout the country.

The crowd held a moment's silence in memory of long-time SIPTU activist and official Gerry Mullins who passed away on Friday. During his work as a SIPTU official Mullins had represented the Vita Cortex workers.

SIPTU officials will meet with the owners of Vita Cortex at the Labour Relations Commission today for "exploratory discussions" on finding a settlement to the dispute.

(CD/GK)