Craft workers at Rye Valley Foods in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan are to strike from Monday in a row over what they describe as compulsory lay-offs at the plant.
The Technical Engineering and Electrical Union, which represents 30 maintenance technicians, served strike notice after management told workers to take a week's annual leave next week or face a week's layoff.
The company, which is part of the Kerry Group, employs 700 workers making pre packed meals for the major supermarket chains.
TEEU Regional Secretary Arthur Hall accused the company of failing to engage in discussions with the union on the week-long closure.
He said that while the company said the closure was necessary for outside maintenance workers to carry out maintenance work, he believed the real reason for the closure was overproduction, or a fall off in sales.
He alleged that workers who decided not to take a week's holidays had been asked not to sign on for social welfare, as it would draw attention to the company's difficulties.
Mr Hall also said that it would suit very few workers to take a week's break at such short notice, and that a very high proportion of them who are migrants would be put in a particularly difficult position.
A spokesperson for the company denied the union's claims.
He said they wanted to shut down production next week to allow for what he called stock realignment, and to allow external contractors to install new equipment.
The spokesperson said this work was not standard maintenance, and would not normally be done by company staff.
He said the company had given staff the option of taking paid annual leave, or unpaid leave.
He added that Monday's bank holiday meant the plant and the workers would only suffer four days of disruption.
