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Unions warn against brewery redundancies

Thursday, 12 June 2008

Compulsory redundancies must not form part of Diageo’s renovation of brewing operations at St James’s Gate, SIPTU has warned.
It also urged unions at Diageo to adopt a united stance in opposing such redundancies at the drinks company.
SIPTU’s national industrial secretary Gerry McCormack has told Diageo that his members will oppose any compulsory redundancies during the company’s restructuring programme in Ireland.
He was speaking after a meeting with the SIPTU’s National Shop Stewards Committee at Diageo in Portlaoise on Tuesday, June 3.
“At the meeting, the committee set out its position regarding Diageo’s plans for the closure of breweries at Dundalk and Kilkenny, as well as the relocation of the Guinness brewery at St James’s Gate to a new green field site in Dublin West,” he said.
“It was decided that we will seek to have joint negotiations with the other trade unions representing employees at Diageo, with a view to reaching an acceptable agreement with management.”
Mr McCormack reaffirmed that SIPTU will not agree to any proposals that involve compulsory redundancies or any diminution in terms and conditions of employment at any of the company’s locations.
“SIPTU, as part of its negotiating strategy, will set minimum conditions to be met in each location affected by the closures or redeployments,” Mr McCormack added.
In May Diageo announced plans to close its breweries in Dundalk and Kilkenny and transfer its Guinness brewery from the iconic plant at St James’s Gate to a site in west Dublin, possibly involving up to 250 job cuts.
Diageo spokeswoman Grainne Mackin said the company has entered into a series of negotiations and is engaging in exploratory meetings with the Guinness Staff Union, as agreed with the Labour Relations Commission.
“We will be engaging in consultation with all our staff,” she said. “The outcome of the assessment of brewing operations will be carried out internally within Diageo, while any severance terms would be carried out through the Labour Relations Commission.”

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