Staff at Shannon based Element Six are to go on strike later this month.
SIPTU members at the industrial diamond manufacturer served notice to management that a strike will take place on Wednesday 21st September commencing at 6am. It comes in the wake of the proposed decision to introduce shift work in the grit section of the plant.
Formerly known as de Beers, Element Six was first established in Shannon in 1963. It operates worldwide with the head office based in Luxembourg, and other primary manufacturing facilities in China, Germany, South Africa, US and the UK.
Assistant Industrial Organiser with SIPTU, Ray Mitchell referenced the 96% of workers represented by the country’s largest trade union who voted in favour of industrial action. He questioned why management have failed to attempt to engage with staff in the interval. “Since then, there has been no attempt by management to engage with our members to discuss the issues that have resulted in this dispute. SIPTU representatives remain available to meet with management to engage in serious negotiations to find a solution to the outstanding issues.”
Ray feels a resolution is possible provided management engage in talks with workers. “If management was to engage in negotiations with our members that were really aimed at finding a resolution to the issues in dispute, the upcoming action could yet be averted. It is now up to management to show its willingness to focus on resolving this dispute.”