Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has reiterated his call for management and workers of Rapid Action Packaging in Gweedore to negotiate a solution to avoid the upcoming strike.
Members of the SIPTU union at the RAP packaging factory are to launch planned strike action for 16 hours on September 24th in relation to a dispute concerning recognition of the workers’ union for collective bargaining purposes.
Sinn Fein Deputy Doherty said both sides should agree to come to the negotiating table:
Deputy Doherty said: “The RAP packaging factory is of course a very important source of employment here in West Donegal and the Donegal Gaeltacht as a whole and the skills and expertise of its workers prove that companies can establish very successful bases in the region.
“As I said last month, it’s unfortunate that this ongoing dispute has escalated to the point that workers represented by SIPTU voted overwhelming in favour of taking strike action which has been announced for 24th September as part of a 16 hour work stoppage with pickets to be staged at its premise on the day.
“However, this decision was not one which was taken lightly by staff and clearly management’s refusal to recognize their right as workers to union representations for the purpose of collective bargaining is a major aggravating factor here.
“This decision by management goes against a recent Labour Court recommendation, and is particularly difficult to comprehend when you consider that the company’s own handbook outlines that determinations made by the State’s industrial relations mechanism will be adhered to by the firm.
“In official correspondence from SIPTU to management the Union has again outlined that it is prepared and willing to sit down with them to discuss the outstanding issues with a view to resolving same.
“I therefore think it’s important for me, as a Public Representative and local T.D. to once again voice encouragement for both Union Reps and company management to come to the negotiating table and thrash out a mutually agreeable solution and which would be in the interest of both sides to accommodate.
“Similarly, I again want to take this opportunity to press upon Údarás na Gaeltachta, as a body which has provided many supports to RAP over the years, to play a role and do its part to enable and encourage both sides to enter into negotiations.”
