The workforce at Waterford Stanley will vote today to decide if it will accept proposals to settle a dispute threatening 120 jobs at the stove-manufacturing company in Waterford city.
TEEU trade union representatives and Waterford Stanley management agreed a recommendation brokered by Brian McGinn at Labour Relations Commission (LRC) talks in Waterford on Monday.
The agreement followed hours of negotiations on Monday - the day when employees received registered letters from the company informing them that the jobs could be lost by Friday.
The dispute arose when negotiations broke down on April 10th over the proposed relocation from the 13-acre Bilberry site to the former HP Chemie plant in Waterford Industrial Park.
Management refused employees' requests of a once-off €2,300 relocation payment, maintaining it would cost up to €500,000.
A €7 million investment plan was in danger of collapse, and it was unclear whether the company would remain in the city were the issues not resolved.
Parent company AGA Rayburn UK maintained stoves of equivalent quality could be manufactured overseas and brought to Ireland 35 per cent cheaper than those made in Waterford.
If the LRC recommendation, understood to include a €500 payment as part of a productivity deal, is accepted the relocation is expected to take place within a matter of days following the withdrawal of protective notice.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/53712a17-7f59-4786-ab4a-d45153e935c4.png)