Company accused of retrospectively tying pay deal to ‘unseen and unagreed’ policy

Unite, which represents the overwhelming majority of workers at Flahavan’s in Kilmacthomas, said today (Monday) that an extraordinary general meeting of members over the weekend decided unanimously to ballot for industrial action at the plant. Flahavan’s supplies around half of all porridge oats consumed at Irish breakfast tables.

The decision to ballot follows management’s unilateral attempt to tie a new pay deal to a ‘flexibility agreement’ which has been neither seen nor negotiated by Unite.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members’ dedication and expertise have made Flahavan’s a household name throughout Ireland. It beggars belief that it has chosen to tear up normal industrial relations procedures and demand workers sign up to an unseen and unagreed policy.”

The ballot opens on 12 August and closes on 21 August.

The proposed ‘flexibility agreement’ did not form part of negotiations on a new pay deal.

Unite regional officer Eoin Drummey said: “Resolution of this dispute is in Flahavan’s hands. Unite remains available to engage with the company if it withdraws its insistence that the acceptance of a new flexibility policy forms part of the new pay deal.”