Posted online: Feb 25th, 2010

By Sinéad Flanagan
Editor

TALKS look finally set to take place between Green Isle and irked striking engineering employees.
In a dispute that has been ongoing since last August, over three employees who were dismissed by the company, months of picketing at the entrance to the company appears to have done little in terms of furthering negotiations for the group.
As a result, last week one man, Jim Wyse who has worked with the company for the past 13 years went on hunger strike.
Speaking to the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union, chief negotiator Eamon Devoy says: “We’re still waiting to engage with the company.”
If a settlement isn’t reached, the 58 year old grandfather will continue on hunger strike in a caravan at the entrance to the site, while he will be joined by another striker next Wednesday and another one every Wednesday for the next few weeks until agreement can be reached.
Mr Wyse’s daughter, Rebecca says: “He’s very positive. It’ll go on until the bitter end. It’s very annoying that it has taken this for it (talks with Green Isle) to happen.”
The Clane man, who is married with five children and four grandchildren is one of 13 engineers who continue to strike because of what they call was an “unfair dismissal” of three of their colleagues last summer. An online Facebook petition is gathering momentum with hundreds of signatures to date.
Unless agreement is reached before the weekend a protest march will take place from Storm Cinema in Naas to Green Isle at 12pm on Saturday.