THE COUNTRY’S LARGEST trade union will today step up its campaign to seek improved redundancy terms for former workers at the Vita Cortex plant.

32 staff at the plant were told last month that the company would not be able to fund the workers’ redundancy entitlements, with the company – a foam manufacturer – complaining that it could not meet them while its assets were frozen by NAMA.

Staff then commenced a sit-in, and turned down a revised lump sum of €1,500 each – offered to the staff if they left the plant and allowed the premises to be cleared – claiming the offer was “derisory”.

A series of SIPTU demonstrations will begin today when the families and friends of the 32 affected staff join their sit-in, in solidarity at the workers’ treatment.

Though the workers are entitled to a State redundancy payment, the company must prove its inability to pay the staff any other agreed redundancy payments.

The decision to escalate the action at the plant, on Cork’s Kinsale Road, was made after a meeting of staff last Thursday.