Irish Cement Workers To Vote Against CRH Directors

Irish Cement workers will use their voting rights as shareholders in the building material supply group, CRH, to oppose the re-election of the company's existing directors at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for Wednesday, 9th May.

The workers are in the fourth week of their strike action at production plants owned by Irish Cement Ltd which is a wholly owned subsidiary of CRH.

The dispute at the Irish Cement Ltd production plants in Castlemungret, Co. Limerick and Platin, Co. Meath, concerns the company’s refusal to honour a Labour Court recommendation relating to the payment of outstanding monies due to its employees.


Secretary of the Irish Cement Group of Unions and SIPTU Sector Organiser, Karan O’Loughlin, said: "Earlier this year the Labour Court made a recommendation that Irish Cement Ltd immediately pay monies which are outstanding to its employees which amount to between €5,500 to €9,500 per worker. Despite its clear terms the management of Irish Cement Ltd has refused to honour the Labour Court recommendation."

"At the same-time as Irish Cement Ltd has been refusing to pay its employees the monies they are owed the senior executives of its parent company, CRH, have been awarding themselves massive bonuses and pay increases. These include a reported cash bonus last year of over €500,000 for CRH Chief Executive Myles Lee which took his total remuneration for 2011 to over €2.6 million."

Pickets were placed on the entrances to Irish Cement Ltd plants on the 3rd April following a decision to take industrial action by the Irish Cement Group of Unions which includes SIPTU, TEEU and Unite.

(CD/GK)