SIPTU in Cork last night described as disgraceful the decision of the Tytex Ireland Ltd plant in Youghal, Co Cork, to let go 13 people who had been recruited recently as part of expansion plans.
SIPTU, which represents the bulk of the plant's workers has been in dispute with the company since it was discovered over a month ago that secret cameras were being used to monitor employees.
The company admitted using the cameras and cited pilfering as the reason for them. But SIPTU disputes this and says no employee has been found guilty of pilfering.
The union had served strike notice but this was deferred pending a Labour Court hearing on Tuesday: The union now says the latest action by the company in letting go the 13 recruits means that a second issue has arisen, and that there is every probability of a strike. Ms Anne Egar, the SIPTU representative, said the union would be seeking to extend the hearing to cover the lay-offs.
In a statement last night, Tytex said it had intended to create a 40-job expansion but the parent company in Denmark had decided to postpone this indefinitely. The company regretted the layoffs.