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Irish cement workers campaign reaches the Dáil and CRH head offices

May, 04 2012

(Ireland) -- Over 40 Irish Cement workers travelled to Dublin (Wednesday, 2nd May) to meet with Government and opposition elected representatives and to protest outside the head offices of the CRH Group.

The workers, from the Irish Cement Ltd production plants in Castlemungret, Co. Limerick and Platin, Co. Meath, travelled to the capital as part of their campaign to secure monies which the company owes them.

The workers are in the fifth week of strike action at the production plants which are owned by Irish Cement Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of CRH.

The workers held a lunchtime meeting in the Dáil which was attended by 16 TDs and Senators (listed below).

SIPTU Organiser, Karan O’Loughlin, said; “At the meeting the workers briefed the public representatives on why they had no alternative but to take strike action to secure the monies which the company owes them.

She added; “Earlier this year the Labour Court made a recommendation that Irish Cement Ltd immediately pay monies which are outstanding to its employees which amount to between €5,500 to €9,500 per worker. Despite its clear terms the management of Irish Cement Ltd has refused to honour the Labour Court recommendation.”

Prior to the meeting in the Dáil workers from the Castlemungret production plant protested outside the head offices of the CRH Group on the Belgard Road in Dublin.

Pickets were placed on the entrances to Irish Cement Ltd plants on 3rd April following a decision to take industrial action by the Irish Cement Group of Unions which includes SIPTU, TEEU and Unite.

Over 100 workers are employed at the two production plants affected by the strike action. CRH Group is one of the world’s largest building materials companies.

If the dispute is not resolved the Irish Cement workers will use their voting rights as shareholders in the CRH Group to oppose the re-election of the company’s existing directors at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for Wednesday, 9th May. The company is holding its AGM at the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.


Elected representatives who attended the Dáil meeting

1. Gerry Adams TD (SF Louth)
2. Gerald Nash TD (Lab Louth)
3. Kieran O Donnell TD (FG Limerick)
4. Willie O Dea TD (FF Limerick)
5. Niall Collins TD (FF Limerick)
6. Senator David Cullinane (SF Waterford)
7. Jan O’Sullivan TD, Minister of State, Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (Lab Limerick)
8. Dominic Hannigan TD (Lab Meath)
9. Peadar Tóibín TD (SF Meath)
10. Peter Fitzpatrick TD (FG Louth)
11. Senator Jim D’Arcy (FG Louth)
12. Regina Doherty TD (FG Meath)
13. Patrick O’Donovan TD (FG Limerick)
14. Senator Thomas Byrne (FF Meath)
15. Fergus O’Dowd TD, Minister of State for the New Era Project (FG Louth)
16. Micheal Colreavy TD (SF Sligo/North Leitrim)

Source:

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