SIPTU has criticised a claim by Vita Cortex that the company walked out of a mediation process because the union was only representing two thirds of the workers involved in the redundancy dispute.
Earlier today, Vita Cortex said it had decided to end all engagement within the mediation process aimed at resolving the four-month row.
The company said it had done so because the appointed mediators had told them significant distance remained between the parties.
The company also claimed that SIPTU was not representing all former workers at the company.
Vita Cortex said that once it became clear that the mediation process would not resolve the dispute, it confirmed to the Labour Relations Commission-appointed mediators last night that it was exiting the process.
SIPTU official Gerry McCormack said 18 of the protestors at the Cork plant are members of SIPTU, while they are also representing a further five former employees who are not actual members.
However, the union would be happy for the terms of any settlement to apply to all 32 workers made redundant last December, regardless of their relationship with SIPTU.
SIPTU said they had accepted proposals issued under guidelines by the mediators and called on the company to do likewise.
A spokesperson for Vita Cortex said that the company would examine the mediators' guidelines over the weekend, but cautioned against optimism.
The talks were overseen by three mediators including Labour Court chairman Kevin Duffy, and former Labour Court members Jack Nash and John Doherty.
For the first time, company owner Jack Ronan attended the talks in person.
