Unions have vowed to keep picketing a Cadbury’s factory as talks begin on fears over outsourcing of jobs.
Siptu and Unite representatives will negotiate with owners Mondelez Ireland after 17 positions at the Coolock factory were reassigned.
More than 200 workers went on strike disrupting production of some of the company’s most iconic chocolate bars such as Dairy Milk, Twirl and Flake amid concerns more permanent roles could go the same way.
The talks beginning on Friday morning will be chaired by mediators from the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
Unite regional coordinating officer Richie Browne warned that the move to outsource 17 core roles in Coolock will herald a “move away from good permanent jobs to precarious work”.
“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,” he said.
Siptu s ector organiser John Dunne said: “Our union representatives have decided to attend these talks in the hope that a resolution can be found to this dispute.
“However, the work stoppage at the plant will continue tomorrow and the pickets outside the plant will remain in operation.”
Cadbury’s in Coolock has been producing chocolate bars for five decades for the Irish, UK and other international markets.
