Talks to try to end the six-week strike at the Irish Sugar Company will take place today at the Labour Court.
The long-running strike is a result of failure to get agreed rates of pay for a new grading system in the company:
The company said yesterday that it had done its utmost to resolve the dispute, but SIPTU had converted a grading review into an across-the-board wage claim. It stressed that the various offers made had been generous and had already gone way beyond the scope of the grading review exercise.
The most recent offer made by the company, which was rejected by SIPTU, was for an average increase of 5.5 per cent across-the-board, as well as a lump sum payment in lieu of retrospection. This was in addition to all payments made under national pay agreements.
However, SIPTU says rates of pay are poor relative to those in comparable process operations.
SIPTU members on strike at factories in Carlow, Mallow, Thurles and Tuam bay their pay rates do not reflect the increased productivity and profitability of Irish Sugar.