Thermo King has warned its 650-strong workforce in Galway that their jobs could be at risk if they continue with an overtime ban introduced this week. The ban is in protest at the introduction of a four-day week by the company because of a downturn in demand. It makes refrigeration units for articulated trailers.
The company introduced the four-day week unilaterally yesterday, after failing to win the agreement of the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union to the changes.
The AEEU, which represents 459 employees, accused the company of locking out its members.
It instructed them to report for work normally yesterday morning and over 300 did so. The AEEU regional officer, Mr Tony Geoghegan, accused the company of scare-mongering and said it had refused to consider a wide range of alternatives to short-time working put forward by the union.
A spokesman for the company said short-time working was needed to protect employment at the plant. The employees had been advised that seven production days had to be cut over the next three months because of the sharp decline in the Russian market.
"The likely result of the overtime ban would mean that the company would not be in a position to fulfil existing orders, thereby putting at risk all of its employees' jobs at the Galway manufacturing plant," he said.
The Labour Relations Commission is available for talks, but each side has accused the other of breaching the plant's partnership agreement.
However, there was some hope of a breakthrough last night when Mr Geoghegan said the union would lift its overtime ban provided the company suspended the operation of the four-day week.
If it did so, even for next Monday, he said that might allow enough time to reach a settlement.
Thermo King has also introduced short-time working in its US and Danish plants.