Workers at the Vita Cortex plant in Cork have described as insulting an offer from the company of a payment each of €1,500.
In a statement issued this afternoon, the company offered the lump-sum, saying this together with their last week's wages should help to ease their financial needs at this time.
The company said it wanted to remove materials and tools from the plant and if workers wanted to resume their sit-in after Christmas, they could.
However SIPTU organizer Ann Egar described the offer as both insulting and unbelievable, saying it was equal to 4% of what people are owed.
She said a week ago Vita Cortex did not have two pennies to rub together and now they can find €50,000 out of the air.
It is now a week since the 32 workers began their sit-in at the factory.
SIPTU's General President Jack O'Connor is to visit them there tomorrow at lunchtime.
Earlier today, SIPTU members of the Cork City Fire Service arrived with breakfast for workers, cooking up and serving it to the 16 people who had slept there over last night.
Third Officer Gerry Myers said their action was meant as a gesture of solidarity with the workers saying something had to be done for these people.
