Mediators in the dispute at the Vita Cortex plant in Cork have concluded there is "no basis" for a mediated settlement.
A statement this evening said the conclusion had been reached by Labour Court chairman Kevin Duffy and his colleagues, Jack Nash and John Doherty following the agreed mediation process.
The mediators have, however, issued confidential "guidance" containing recommendations which, in their opinion, "would represent a fair and equitable basis upon which to resolve the dispute".
The proposals contained in the guidance received from the mediators were considered and balloted upon by Siptu members in Vita Cortex at a general meeting in Connolly Hall, Cork today and were accepted, the union said in a statement.
"The recommendations emerging from the guidance have been issued on a strictly confidential basis.
“We believe that the proposals contained in the guidance represent a fair and equitable settlement to this long running dispute and we would call on the owners of Vita Cortex to accept the recommendations and bring the dispute to a close as quickly as possible,” Siptu manufacturing division organiser, Gerry McCormack said.
The Vita Cortex workers have been occupying the former foam manufacturing plant on the Kinsale Road in Cork since December 16th in pursuit of their agreed redundancy terms.
The 32 employees involved in the dispute were seeking 0.9 weeks of pay for each year of service, which, they say, was agreed with the company and given to other employees.
They have already received their statutory entitlements of two weeks a year of service from the Department of Social Protection.