Protest at Lagan Brick ends

A protest by workers laid off from the Lagan Brick manufacturing plant in Co Cavan ended last night after agreement was reached on a redundancy package.

The workers had been on strike outside the gates of the factory in Kingscourt for the last 272 days, following the closure of the plant with just an hour’s notice on December 15th.

SIPTU organiser John Regan said the deal would “provide for a fair and reasonable conclusion to the dispute”.

“This agreement now provides the workers with an opportunity to get back to a normal life,” he said.

The Lagan Brick workers welcomed the agreement and thanked friends, family and local businesses who had supported them.

“It has been a long a difficult time for everyone,” they said in a statement.

Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the long awaited news was “very welcome”.

“Whatever the future holds for the closed Lagan Brick plant at Kingscourt, I would hope that the former workforce would be given most favourable consideration in the event that this plant reopens under whatever management,” he said.

Details of the agreement concluded between the workers’ representatives and the management of Lagan Brick are confidential.

The official picket outside the Kingscourt plant ended this morning, but the statement by the workers said they would continue their presence outside the plant until some money was paid into their bank accounts.