Labour Court recommends Wyeth union accept plant restructuring proposals

The Labour Court recommended that the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union (SIPTU) and its members accept Wyeth Nutritionals’ proposals for restructuring roles at its Ready to Feed plant. The recommendation was dated 6 February 2019. SIPTU objected to reductions in operator numbers and argued that creating new roles required union agreement. Wyeth said declining production required fewer roles and that affected operators would be offered alternative work. The Court found the company-union agreement allowed roles to be abolished or created where necessary and provided scope for flexibility. The plant was due to close in 2020.