A STORM over cups of tea for those attempting to break the impasse at Drumcree on July 11th has led to the dismissal of one worker at the Ulster Carpet Millson the Garvaghy Road and a written warning to another worker.
The Portadown factory, which employs about 700 people, made rooms on its premises available to those taking part in talks to reach a solution to the stand off.
They were the leaders of the four main churches - the Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Robin Eames; Cardinal Cahal Daly; the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Dr Harry Allen; and the president of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Rev Kenneth Best - and representatives of the Orange Order and the Garvaghy Road Residents Group.
The dispute began after factory staff were requested to serve tea to the talks participants. One woman worker refused, and was subsequently disciplined. A second woman worker became involved in a disagreement after her colleague objected to serving tea, and has now been dismissed.
A source in the firm claimed that the employee who had refused was subsequently given a written warning, and the second employee was dismissed following a disciplinary hearing.
Neither of the workers would comment on the matter. A spokesman for the firm indicated that this was an internal staff matter. The spokesman also said an employee had the right of appeal in every disciplinary matter and was entitled to a fair hearing by the company.
It is understood that an appeal has been lodged.