SWISSCO WORKERS occupied the company’s Little Island plant in Co Cork yesterday in protest at the firm’s closure and what they claim is a lack of information on finances.
A union spokesman said pay was in arrears, and there was no indication how redundancy compensation would be dealt with.
More than 150 workers at the ready-meal supplier were told their jobs were gone after a liquidator was appointed to Swissco Ltd on Monday after a period of examinership. The company had hoped to find a new investor but it confirmed all 154 staff had been made redundant.
A spokesman said Swissco Ltd regretted the job losses, but said the company had been unprofitable for some time.
The 12-hour occupation ended just before 9pm, after Siptu sectoral organiser Alan O’Leary received assurances that workers would be paid any outstanding wages.
Mr O’Leary had already met with local TDs, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin and Minister of State for Labour Billy Kelleher. He will be seeking their support in obtaining retraining and new employment for the workers.
Swissco, which opened in Little Island in 1974, is a subsidiary of UK-based International Cuisine Ltd. The vast majority of workers have been with the company for more than 10 years and 20 have been employed since it opened.
