SIPTU members at Kerry Group are calling on management to attend the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to find a resolution to a dispute concerning redundancies.

The company announced in March that it would be outsourcing 150 jobs from Naas and Charleville to Malaysia and Mexico.

The jobs are mainly in finance, human resources, data management and regulatory functions.

SIPTU organiser Terry Bryan said that the proposed job losses “could not come at a worse time for the workers involved or their families”.

Economic recession

“Many of these workers face the prospect of unemployment with the potential of an economic recession following the devastating effects of COVID-19 on employment levels,” he said.

“In discussions with the company, agreement could not be reached on the proposed job losses, the redundancy terms, the selection criteria and the transition arrangements.

“In line with accepted State resolution procedures, we referred the matter to the WRC. However, the company has declined the invitation from the WRC to enter talks.

“We are calling on the Kerry Group to reverse its decision and engage at the WRC with the union with a view to finding a resolution.

“Failure on the company’s part to do so will leave SIPTU with no other alternative other than to consider a ballot of its members for industrial and/or strike action.”