SIPTU calls for new redundancy laws

SIPTU has called for new legislation to improve compensation for redundant workers.

General Secretary, Mr John McDonnell, told delegates at the Union’s National Delegate Conference in Tralee existing laws requiring advance notification of redundancies to be provided by employers had to be more rigorously enforced.

"The 1997 Protection of Employment Act – which requires employers to give at least thirty days’ notice of mass redundancies in order to allow for consultation with the workers – is no longer being complied with," he said.

Mr McDonnell said the union is also seeking an improved statutory redundancy scheme which would include free access to re-training or further education for workers who have lost their jobs.

He pointed to recent experiences of the 400 workers in Irish Ispat, Cobh and a further 250 workers in GMX, Thurles who "suffered the double trauma" of minimal severance payments and loss of employment.

He said an earlier redundancy deal was ignore by Irish Ispat and workers with twenty-five years’ service received lump sums of £9,000. The earlier redundancy deal was worth five time this amount, he added.

"The anger and frustration of the employees was palpable," said Mr McDonnell.