Breakthrough in Bord Na Mona dispute
Almost fifty per cent of Bord Na Mona workers embroiled in a near three week dispute with management at its Lough Ree power plant have agreed to return to work, it has emerged.
A meeting is understood to have taken place earlier today (Thursday) involving a significant number of those caught up in the row.
It's believed around 20 workers were present at the talks, and while no workers were available for comment this afternoon, all of those who attended the meeting opted to return to normal work practices.
However, it is not yet clear whether those staff will be allowed back as a meeting with union officials and management is expected to take place tomorrow morning.
Despite representatives from Siptu still seemingly unwilling to discuss the matter when contacted by longfordleader.ie this afternoon, a spokesperson from Bord Na Mona welcomed the development.
"Absolutely," said the spokesperson when asked if the breathrough was a being viewed as a positive one by the semi-state firm. "We have been asking for the workers to go back to work all along and hopefully this is the case."
News of the breakthrough comes a day after the Leader revealed a major advancement concerning the dispute was expected to be made over the next seven days.
"I believe things will be sorted," were the views echoed by one worker at the beginning of the week. "Things aren't just sorted yet but things seem to be going the right way."
A key factor behind the decision of almost half of staff members to return to work is believed to rest largely on a Labour Relations Commission (LRC) hearing on September 15.
That case is scheduled to deal with an outstanding claim workers have made in relation to alleged loss of overtime earnings.
The commission has said however, those claims will not be heard while the dispute involving workers is classed as being 'unofficial.'
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Weather for Longford, Ireland
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 5 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
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Light rain
Temperature: 5 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 5 mph
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