Sit in at Co-operative Poultry Products ends in agreement

The sit-in by some 35 of 90 workers at the Co-operative Poultry Products plant in Cootehill who lost their jobs last week has ended. Following intense discussions between SIPTU representatives and the receiver, Simon Coyle of Mazars who was appointed to the plant on Monday at the request of the company, agreement was reached. SIPTU organiser, Jim Finnegan, said: "The sit-in at the plant has now concluded and arrangements for the processing of the remaining product stored in the plant have been agreed. The full terms of the agreement are confidential to SIPTU, its members and the receiver. "SIPTU wishes to acknowledge the assistance given in resolving this situation in an amicable manner to Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Shane McEntee, who chaired today's meeting, and local TD, Heather Humphreys, who also assisted with today's discussions." Workers had been staging a sit-in at the Co-operative Poultry Products production plant since Tuesday following the announcement that the company was closing with immediate effect on Monday. Deputy Humphreys commented: "I will continue to liaise closely with Minister Richard Bruton's Department, which has confirmed that all of the machinery of the State will be made available to resolve the situation. "Enterprise Ireland is also working with the company and every effort will be made to try and find an alternative operator for what is a high quality, modern processing plant." The receiver is continuing efforts today to find a buyer for the business.