Unite members protest ongoing failure to pay Labour Court recommendation

November 30th: Members of trade union Unite made redundant by AMT-Sybex, a subsidiary of outsourcing giant Capita, were joined today by supporters to protest against the company’s refusal to implement enhanced redundancy terms recommended by the Labour Court in September.  Speaking at the protest outside AMT-Sybex’ offices in Sandyford, Unite Regional Officer Bernard Daly said that the difference between paying statutory redundancy and paying the enhanced redundancy terms recommended by the Labour Court would cost Capita well below €500,000 at a time when the company holds departmental contracts worth nearly €140 million:

“Replies to Dail questions show that Capita has numerous departmental contracts worth nearly €140 million, including the contract to run Eircode as well as contracts with NAMA and the NTMA.  This figure does not include other contracts with semi-state bodies.

“Capita has a highly lucrative relationship with the Irish state, yet they have treated our members and the state’s industrial relations machinery with breath-taking contempt.

“The difference between paying statutory redundancy of two weeks per year of service, and the Labour Court’s recommendation of 5.5 weeks, is well below €500,000.  This is small change for a company like Capita, which last year made an operating profit of over £500 million on turnover of £4,898 million.

“Unite will be pursuing all avenues open to us to ensure that Capita meets its obligations to our members”, Bernard Daly said.