Strike prompts company to sack quarter of workforce
A Derry medical packaging company today sacked more than a quarter of its workforce today amid unofficial industrial action.
Perfecseal said action by a small number of its 200-strong workforce had been unofficial, unlawful and repudiated by the works union, Amicus, and resulted in their contracts of employment being ended with immediate effect.
A spokesman said the rest of the workforce were working normally and all machinery operating.
The company said: “Perfecseal Ltd wish to confirm that industrial action taken by a small number of employees is unofficial and unlawful.
“The action has been repudiated by their trade union Amicus and ends their employment contracts with immediate effect.”
General manager Keith McCracken added: “Perfecseal will be undeterred by the reckless actions of a small number of employees.”
The dispute appeared to start after a group of 24 workers stopped work on Tuesday for a meeting and were told they could not do so during working hours.
They did not return to work and when faced with disciplinary proceedings refused to co-operate or return to work and were suspended as a result. A number of other workers are understood to have downed tools in support and to have also been suspended.
According to shop stewards the management called a meeting at a Derry hotel last night and told workers involved they were sacked.
Protesters gathered outside the gates of the company today and shop steward John Coogan said: “We will not be going back until all suspensions and sackings have been lifted.”
Sinn Féin MLA for Foyle, Mitchel McLaughlin, spoke out at what he called the arbitrary decision of management to dismiss those engaged in industrial action in support of suspended colleagues.
“I don’t believe that this heavy-handed approach is conducive to building the conditions required to allow the plant to return to normal production.”
What was needed were “cool heads and mature discussion to reach an accommodation aimed at bridging the differences between both parties and a resumption of production in an atmosphere conducive to good industrial relations”, he said.
The Derry Trades Council asked management to take a step back and reconsider the sackings.
Local trade unionist, Liam Gallagher added: “We would urge the company to withdraw those dismissal notices and enter into consultation with Amicus.
“We would offer our services in terms of mediation to try and resolve this matter. I think it is important that we don’t escalate this matter.”
