01/09/2009

Strike Escalates After Picketer Injured

Workers union SIPTU has announced an escalation in its ongoing industrial action at a well known drinks distributors after one of the pickets was injured during a protest.

According to a SIPTU spokesman, one of their members - Martin Daly - was taken to hospital this morning after he was injured by a car driven through an official picket at the Coca-Cola distribution centre in Dublin, where a dispute over outsourcing is raging.

The spokesman said Mr Daly was treated in the James Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown for injuries to his arm after the second such incident since pickets were placed at the warehouse on Ballycoolin Road, Finglas, and distribution centres across the country last week.

SIPTU announced last week that its Strike Committee had decided the pickets would remain in place at Coca-Cola HBC Ireland depots in Dublin, Cork, Tuam, County Galway and Tipperary because of the company's refusal change its decision to outsource the jobs of 130 distribution and warehouse staff.

Coca-Cola HBC refused to attend the Labour Relations Commission to discuss alternatives to the sacking of 130 employees or the outsourcing of their jobs.

Gerry McCormack the National Industrial Secretary of SIPTU said: "Coca-Cola HBC has been threatening and intimidating these workers into accepting a redundancy package that they do not want.

"The company has been threatening workers with injunctions and to date two workers on the picket lines have been injured, one requiring hospitalisation, as a result of being hit by a vehicle crossing the peaceful picket lines."

(DW/BMcC)

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