Vita Cortex sit-in

The Vita Cortex sit-in was a peaceful protest at the Vita Cortex plant on the Kinsale Road in Cork, Ireland, which began on 16 December 2011 after workers were made redundant without pay with immediate effect. The dispute has led to nationwide protests, television appeals and debates in Dáil Éireann.^[1][2] According to the trade union UNITE, it is part of a growing trend of workers being "left in the cold" after being made redundant.^[3]

The staff have worked for a total of 847 years for Vita Cortex, with the most senior employee having worked there for 47 years.^[4] The strike has received support from, among others, the Cork senior hurling team, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, world-renowned linguist and human rights campaigner Noam Chomsky, iconic soccer player Paul McGrath, musician Christy Moore, film and theatre actor Cillian Murphy, and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.^[5][6]

History

December

Vita Cortex Industries produced foam for the furniture and packaging industries. On 15 December 2011, staff were told that the company was to close the following day, and that they would be made redundant with no financial recompense. Vita Cortex Industries blamed the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) for the situation.^[7]

On 16 December, workers began a sit-in at the plant.^[8][9] The sit-in is non-stop, with workers sleeping overnight throughout.^[4] Members of the public have provided food to the workers and have offered shower facilities.^[4] The sit-in continued over Christmas and into the new year.^[10][11][12]

Lord Mayor of Cork Terry Shannon visited the workers on 21 December 2011.^[13][14]

A delegation from SIPTU visited on 27 December 2011.^[15]

January

The workers were interviewed on The Late Late Show on 6 January 2012.^[5] Christy Moore later said that watching this moved him to perform a show in solidarity with the workers.^[16]

On 11 January 2012, the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) intervened.^[1][17] That day also saw Cork senior hurling coach Jimmy Barry Murphy visit the workers to present them with a signed Cork hurling jersey and pledge the support of him and his team for the workers.^[5]

On 12 January, hundreds of people, including Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton, protested outside Leinster House in Dublin, in solidarity with the redundant workers.^[2][18][19] Hundreds of people also protested in Cork two days later.^[20][21]

On 19 January, world renowned linguist and human rights campaigner Noam Chomsky sent an e-mail message "to the workers of Vita Cortex, Cork, Ireland" in which he commended their "courageous and honourable actions". SIPTU Organiser Anne Egar described the email supporting the plight of the former Vita Cortex workers as "staggering".^[22][23] Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson also sent her support, writing: "I have always supported the right of workers to be treated fairly. I sympathise with your desire and that of your co-workers to get a fair deal."^[24]

February

On 11 February 2012, thousands of people marched through Cork city centre in solidarity with the Vita Cortex workers in one of the largest such marches in recent years.^[25]

On 13 February, Sir Alex Ferguson personally telephoned Jim Power to express his support for their plight and spoke about his involvement in an apprentice boys’ strike in Glasgow in 1961. He told the Vita Cortex workers to "stick in there".^[6]

On 17 February, musician Christy Moore performed a sell-out show in the Triskel Arts Centre in support of the sit-in. He dedicated his song "Ordinary Man" to the workers, calling their treatment "obscene". On 18 February, soccer icon Paul McGrath visited the factory to declare his support.^[26]

February also saw Hollywood actor Cillian Murphy publicly declare his support for the former Vita Cortex workers. He wrote, "For whatever its worth I really just wanted to pass on my admiration to you all for the courage and commitment you are displaying in your sit-in. To everyone following this situation from the outside it is more than clear that you have right on your side and that what you are highlighting is hugely important to us all as a nation".^[27][28]

March

On the morning of 2 March 2012, a delegation of former Vita Cortex workers met Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore at a hotel in the city of Cork.^[29]

Henry O'Reilly, a grandfather and Vita Cortex worker for more than 40 years, was reported to have been diagnosed with liver, spleen and pancreatic cancer. His cancer diagnosis came after he contracted suspected pneumonia while protesting for better conditions at the freezing Vita Cortex plant.^[30] He began treatment including an aggressive chemotherapy regime.^[31]

March also saw the protest reach its hundredth day.^[30] More than 100 family members and friends of the former Vita Cortex workers gathered in the factory canteen and a Mass was celebrated.^[32]

April

The workers blocked the factory gates to stop trucks making deliveries and collections to and from a sister business, Vita Clean, on the same site.^[33] They later decided to open the gates after consulting with their SIPTU officials.^[34]

See also

• Post-2008 Irish economic downturn
• List of Irish protests since 2008

References