Former staff at Thomas Cook have accepted an improved redundancy package from the travel company, ending a bitter dispute that resulted in a sit-in at the firm's shop in Grafton Street.
The proposal was agreed between Thomas Cook management and the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) late last night and put to union members at a meeting this morning.
The union declined to reveal details of the package, but Thomas Cook earlier claimed that the deal, which followed 10 hours of talks at the Labour Relations Commission, is the same as was on offer before the dispute began.
The company has offered five weeks per year of service plus a month's pay as an ex-gratia payment to 77 workers who will be made redundant as the result of the closure of its two stores in Grafton Street and Talbot Street. However, it is understood that the company agreed to increase ex gratia payments to staff on top of the original offer.
The dispute began almost two weeks ago after the company announced its intentions to pull out of the Republic immediately, following a staff vote to take industrrial action in a bid to save their jobs.
Thomas Cook claimed the Irish stores were closed after suffering losses of about €1 million per year.
A five-day sit-in at Thomas Cook on Grafton Street followed, and ended after staff were removed from the premises in an early morning operation by gardaí.
The unions and the workers were holding out for eight weeks per year of service. They claimed that the company could afford it given the £7 million it paid its chief executive Manny Fontenla Novoa last year. The company is due to announce its quarterly results later today.
However, TSSA general secretary Gerry Doherty said it was not the same deal and there had been "some movement" on the part of the company.
"I am extremely proud of our members at Thomas Cook whe secured a better deal by their determination to stand up for their rights against a multi national company," he said today.
Thomas Cook UK and Ireland chief executive Pete Constanti reiterated previous comments he made that the deal on offer was generous.
"We have honoured a redundancy package based on five weeks of pay per year of service. This equals the value of that which was offered prior to the unofficial action and the illegal occupation of the Grafton Street store.
"We have always believed that this offer is generous when compared to similar redundancy payments being made in the current economic climate, at a time when many employers are paying only statutory redundanc," he said.
"We now hope our people are able to move on and accept the recommendation of the LRC."