Unite claims management is trying to break union

The Unite union has upped the rhetoric in advance of a protest and meeting due to take place outside engineering plant, Maydown Precision Engineering (MPE), later this afternoon.
By Staff Reporter
Published 27th Aug 2015, 11:46 BST

Regional Secretary Jimmy Kelly has written to members accusing management of trying to “break the union” after the plant was taken over by the Waterford and Leicester-based Schivo group last month.

In a union circular, Mr Kelly wrote: “As you are aware the Union is currently in dispute with MPE.

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“The company was recently bought over by Waterford-based Schivo, owned by Seamus Kilgannon and he along with the L/Derry management has initiated a campaign to break the union within MPE.

“We believe based on this that the union must show solidarity to those already dismissed and support for those still working with MPE/Scivo NI, that Unite is not a Union that will just roll over when attacked by unscrupulous employers.”

Mr Kelly informed members that Unite had written to Mr Kilgannon to ask for a meeting.

He added: “The Union has already engaged with local political representatives from both Sinn Féin and the SDLP in the L/Derry area and we have inforned both Derry Trades’ Council and local Unite in the Community branch activists of the situation.”

A union protest is due to take place outside MPE on Thursday from 4pm. A related protest is scheduled to take place in Waterford at 1pm.

Related topics:UniteWaterfordLeicesterDerry