Siptu Claim Drinks Distributor Breaking Wage Laws

Trade union Siptu has claimed that one of Ireland’s largest drinks distributors has breached payment of wages legislation and enforced “highly unusual work practices”.

Graham Macken, an organiser with Siptu, was speaking as 10 former employees of MJ Gleeson Ltd, who say they were made redundant for joining a trade union, staged a protest outside the company’s Dublin distribution plant in Ballyfermot.

The company bottles and distributes a number of products, including Tipperary Natural Mineral Water, Finches soft drinks and Bavaria beer.

Mr Macken said the company had unilaterally reduced wages “in breach of the Payment of Wages Act” and workers were paid less for working on Sundays than for other days, the Irish Times has reported.

The company’s latest accounts show it made a profit of €4.7 million last year.

“When the lads joined the union they were spoken to individually by the boss,” said Mr Macken.

He said when the majority of the workforce had joined Siptu he attempted to engage management in negotiations but it refused.

Adding that, “When they embarked on a programme of redundancies, they just happened to pick the most vocal union members.”

Pat Cooney, director of MJ Gleeson, said the job losses were due to the loss of a large contract with Dunnes Stores, adding: “I don’t even know who’s in a union here.”

Asked by the Irish Times if the company recognised trade unions, he said: “I’m not saying anything about that.”

(H)