Cadbury staff will return to work on Monday

ELEVEN hundred production workers at the Cadbury Ireland plant in Coolock, Dublin, will return to work on Monday after 85 fitters at the factory agreed yesterday to end their unofficial dispute.

Talks at the Labour Relations Commission are scheduled to take place next Thursday to resolve the disagreement between the fitters, electricians and the company over new technology. The company said it "welcomes the news of an end to the present unofficial industrial action by fitters".

After a rowdy 3 1/2 hour meeting between the unions - the TEEU and the AEEU - at the Artane and Beaumont Recreation Centre, union officials said the fitters had agreed to the proposals worked out with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

Mr Tommy White, assistant general secretary of the TEEU, said that "the proposals have been debated at length". They were fully considered and the unions agreed to a return to work. Arrangements are in place with the Labour Relations Commission for a meeting next Thursday, which the company has agreed to attend.

Cadbury, one of the State's largest employers, laid off the 1,100 production staff who were not involved in the dispute, in response to the action by the fitters. The chocolate manufacturer said the row was because of the fitters' objection to work being done by the electricians.

This work is part of a £20 million investment programme to increase the manufacturing capacity for TimeOut, its newest product.

The fitters, who are members of the TEEU and the AEEU, said it was not a demarcation dispute but a row about the introduction of new technology.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which was involved in drawing up the proposals, welcomed the decision to accept them and to return to work.

The assistant general secretary, Mr Kevin Duffy, said Congress was "extremely pleased" at the return to work. "We're hopeful that the parties will be able to resolve their differences at the Labour Relations Commission." Asked about the layoffs by the company, he said it was unfortunate that it became necessary to do so.

Mr Charles Prizeman, president of the electricians/fitters No 1 Branch of the TEEU, agreed that the dispute over technology. has gone on for about four years. He was hopeful that there would be harmony at the plant after the meeting and the move to the Labour Relations Commission, although it might take some time.

"All these disputes result in a little bitterness," he said. The management decision to lay off 1,100 of the 1,450 employees at the plant was "premature. But we're prepared to draw a line under that and meet with the company.

While the meeting was in place, 16 production shop stewards held a sit in at the factory in protest at the company's "lack of consultation which was shown by Cadbury's decision to lay off the production employees".

A statement issued by the company after the meeting said: "Cadbury Ireland thanks all those who played a part in the resolution of the problem and looks forward to welcoming all employees back to make a fresh start to 1996".