Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We have to look and see what other parts of the country are doing as well to see whether they are keeping up to speed with us.

SK biotek Ireland, based in Swords, County Dublin, has laid off approximately 150 staff. This is a serious situation. Only a year ago the company made an agreement that it would guarantee the terms and conditions of the staff for five years and yet here it is now laying off staff. The workers are left with no option but to strike to highlight their issues of concern.

The company refuses to attend the Workplace Relations Committee unless the staff agree to its preconditions on talking to them. This is viewed by staff as unreasonable and coercive, and the company's response is to lay off the employees directly involved in manufacturing. I believe that the staff members are right and we should not tolerate any employer trying to dictate the terms of a negotiation. I believe the Minister should not either, and that the Government should protect their rights. This is a complete breach of workplace relations in this country and the Minister needs to act now to ensure that the company respects its workforce and the office of the State, that is, the Workplace Relations Commission.

We have even seen a letter in recent days sent by the company informing workers that if they participate in a picket on the plant, they are making themselves unavailable for work and will not be entitled to jobseeker's benefit. Now the company is the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection as well, advising workers on what is happening there. The Government cannot allow this to continue.

The Government must take a stance in terms of protecting workers' rights and protecting the arms of the State charged with protecting the rights of those workers. It has to get involved in this situation and get SK biotek to come to the table without any preconditions.

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