Agency staff vote to strike over employer’s ‘hard line’

Seven staff at BCD Travel have voted to strike in protest about the way they have been treated since being laid off by the group.

Unions representing the employees, who work in a business travel implant at food manufacturers Kerry Group, say the agency has "taken a very hard line" over the job cuts and accused it of "squeezing out the little people".

SIPTU sector organiser Karan O’Loughlin said: "The workers have been trying to negotiate terms with the company, which includes the retention of two positions. However, the company has refused to fully engage or even attend a meeting at the Labour Relations Commission.

"The company is only prepared to pay the minimum statutory obligation to these employees despite being a very large global corporation."

"It would seem these two major business giants, Kerry Group, the customer, and BCD Travel, the contractor, are quite prepared to use their collective muscle to squeeze out the little people who do the day to day graft.

She said Kerry Group, based in County Kerry, has a good reputation in terms of corporate behaviour.

"We are now calling on it to engage with this contractor to ensure that the employees targeted for redundancy are treated with fairness and dignity."

But, BCD Travel was quick to defend itself, saying that as a private, family-owned company, it takes "social obligations to the communities in which we operate very seriously".

"Tough business decisions cannot be made without some controversy, but we always endeavour to act in good faith," it said in a statement. "We also think it’s important when tensions run high that the facts not be misrepresented."

It said the agency has concluded the consultation process with its colleagues in Tralee and met with them directly on a number of occasions in the presence of SIPTU.

"All employees based in Tralee were offered relocation to Dublin, our only other office in Ireland. A small number of home working positions were offered. The possibilities of home working to support BCD Travel’s operations in the UK and Europe were explored," it said.

BCD said when staff were not prepared to accept alternatives, it arranged for a third party consultant to meet with them and give them support with CV writing and Interview techniques and also extended their health insurance cover beyond the transfer date.

"It is regrettable that agreement could not be reached with these employees in relation to continuing their employment with our company."

by Bev Fearis
 

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