Department will approve claims for Unemployment Benefit in advance of liquidation completion

Trade union Unite, which represents workers in Dundalk’s The Authentic Food Company plant, today (Thursday) announced that it has obtained assurances from the Department of Social Protection that all claims for Unemployment Benefit lodged by workers at the site will be processed immediately and paid.

Unite has been in constant contact with the Department following last Friday’s news that the site is to be liquidated by its Manchester-based parent company, leaving workers technically employed during the 30-day ‘consultation’ and subsequent two-week notice period, but without any income as of last Friday.

Commenting, Unite’s Senior Officer in the Republic, Brendan Ogle, said:

“Unite welcomes the assurances from the Department and their local official, Brendan McGuinness, that all claims for Unemployment Benefit lodged by The Authentic Food Company workers resident in the Republic will be processed immediately and paid.  This is some comfort for workers who have been left high and dry by their employers.

“We will, of course, continue engaging with the liquidators, and are attempting to engage with the parent company, to obtain the best possible outcome for the workforce and their community”, Mr Ogle concluded.