WELLMAN Inc is expected to agree to meet SIPTU representatives early next week on the dispute which threatens to close its synthetic fibre plant at Mullagh, Co Meath. Nearly 500 jobs are at stake.
The president of SIPTU, Mr Edmund Browne, asked the managing director of the plant yesterday for the meeting. Afterwards Mr Browne said that some of the issues involved in the dispute would be difficult to resolve.
On Wednesday the chief operations officer of Wellman in New Jersey said that the nine week strike at the Mullagh plant and "unreasonable demands" by the workforce meant the company would have to review its Irish operation.
Mr Browne said that about 10 days ago "I suggested to the branch that I might be able to assist and the shop stewards agreed. I met them for three hours on Wednesday and spoke to Mr Bud den (the managing director) this morning.
He said it had been a very good discussion. Mr Budden "has gone back to consult with colleagues and will be back this evening or tomorrow morning."
Industry sources said last night that Wellman can be expected to agree to talks and that they will probably take place early next week. This will allow a brief breathing space before the company takes a final decision on the future of the Mullagh plant.
The last talks broke down because the company was insisting that SIPTU accept a Labour Court recommendation to implement new work practices as a precondition to talks and the union refused.
Mr Browne has sought to find a new basis for talks. He described industrial relations at the plant as "less than adequate" and had conveyed this to Mr Budden.
There was fear in the plant of a hidden management agenda, and, this had to be removed if progress was to be made. "We also need to know where the company stands in relation to plans for the future," he said.
The dispute is over the redeployment of a small number of production workers. The company stance has been that while SIPTU agreed in principle to adopt a progressive, partnership approach to change, in practice it has resisted all attempts to implement it.