Outsourcing costs jobs, says Unite’s Richie Browne

Priority must be to maintain permanent and pensionable jobs in Coolock

March 3rd: As unions prepare to enter talks with Cadbury’s/Mondelez under the auspices of the WRC tomorrow, Unite Regional Coordinating Officer Richie Browne today warned that the company’s move to outsource 17 core roles at its Coolock site will herald what he termed a “move away from good permanent jobs to precarious work”.  Around 220 members of Unite, as well as members of SIPTU, started indefinite strike action this morning on foot of the company’s decision to outsource jobs without agreement.

“The unions have put forward proposals which would achieve productivity improvements and cost savings with no loss of permanent jobs.  We welcome the intervention of the WRC, and hope for a meaningful engagement tomorrow.

“Unite believes that the move by Cadbury’s/Mondelez to outsource 17 core jobs heralds a move away from good permanent pensionable jobs to precarious work.  This would be bad for the workers concerned, bad for Coolock, and ultimately bad for the company.

“The bottom line is that outsourcing costs jobs, and unions are determined to resist such moves in the interests of our members and the wider community”, Richie Browne said.