Company refers severance package to WRC, says it remains open to mediation

SIPTU members employed in the Becton Dickinson manufacturing plant in Drogheda, placed a picket at the entrance to the plant from 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm today (Thursday, 3^rd October) in an escalation of their ongoing campaign of industrial action. 

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Andrea Cleere said: “Since the announcement in July that this very profitable plant is to close fully by September 2026, SIPTU representatives have sought to work with management on alternatives that could maintain it in operation.  

“Our members have remained patient for months while seeking meaningful engagement with this US-headquartered company but to no avail. Our members began a work-to-rule industrial action at the plant last month but the company has still failed to engage with our Union in a manner that could resolve the dispute at meetings between the sides.” 

“Our members will continue with their industrial action in an attempt to bring about meaningful negotiations with management concerning the future of the plant. SIPTU representatives remain committed to resolving this dispute through direct negotiations with management, we are also available and willing to attend mediation.  

“Our members believe it is only through a continuation, and if necessary, further escalation of their industrial action that the conditions can be created to resolve this dispute.”

Speaking at the picket this lunchtime Ms Cleere said: “The worker find themselves in the unfortunate position where they are out on the picket line because of the actions or inactions of management.
“We remain open for discussions at local level and to engage in a meaningful process through mediation if necessary.”

Supporting the workers at the picket on the Donore Road plant, Deputy Ged Nash told Drogheda Life that in his opinion this dispute should never have got to thestage where BD workers felt they had no option but to go out on the street picketing.

“The workers are being treated with absolute contempt by BD management” Deputy Nash said. “They have made what I can only escribe as a derisory redundancy offer  to workers wo have shown incredible loyalty to this plant over many years.

“I understand the company intends to refer this issue to “mediation” as they refer to it, in the WRC (Workplace Relations Commission), but in all my years as a trade union member, as an activist and as a TD, I have never seen a company try to attach preconditions to workers and their trade union representatives ahead of going to mediation. That is extraordinary, all the workers are looking for is a fair redundancy package but the company has decided to press the nuclear button.

“This is not a case of the company going through a difficult financial period where they may need to consider redundancies under restructuring and cost saving measures whereby workers return when the company starts to do better. They went straight for the nuclear button, they just want to leave Drogheda.

“Workers who have been loyal to the company should receive a much improved package than the one that has been offered. I can only conclude that the decision they took was to increase shareholder value which is driving redundancies and cost-cutting by firms like BD all across the world and it is simply not on.

“This is a very profitable operation here in Drogheda but this company’s constant drive for more profits to keep shareholders happy is destroying both the social fabric of communities and local economies. The real reason that BD is closing the Drogheda plant is that they can extract more profits by moving to lower cost economies.

Commenting on the decision to refer severance package negotiations for the BD workers to the WRC, a company spokesman said: 

“BD has actively engaged and consulted with the Trade Unions, Trade Union representatives and BD employees since July 3rd when it was announced that a phased closure of our manufacturing facility in Drogheda would take place.

“Despite our best efforts to negotiate with all employees and their unions, BD has had to take a decision to refer this matter to the Workplace Relations Commission to move the process forward.

“We remain open to re-engaging with all employees and their unions directly and are amenable to mediation to resolve the current impasse.

“Since the commencement of this process we have made every effort to negotiate in good faith to arrive at the best possible settlement for all those affected.

“However, we feel a referral to the Workplace Relations Commission is the best method to resolve this matter for our employees and to ensure continuity in the supply of products that are critical to patient care in Ireland and around the world.”