Congress Slams 'Greedy' Greencore over €1 million Pay for Chief Executive
16 Jan 2007
Congress General Secretary David Begg has slammed the huge 17 percent salary increase for Greencore chief David Dilger, awarded despite his company's refusal to pay redundancy packages due to former Irish Sugar workers.
"Is this company completely shameless? They raise the chief executive's annual pay by a whopping 17 percent to over €1 million, while the former Irish sugar workers who built the company are denied proper redundancy packages.
"The Labour Court has already ruled against the greedy and miserly approach they took on severance terms. Greencore must stop the hypocrisy and pay the workers what they are due."
Mr Begg also said he would be making representations at the highest level of Government to ensure Greencore did not receive any of the €146 million restructuring aid package, allocated by the EU following the end of sugar production in Ireland, until they abided by the Labour Court ruling.
"Is the Government willing to see a state institution undermined in this fashion? I would hope not," said Mr Begg.
"They should make it clear to Greencore that they will not be paid any of the EU restructuring aid, until they respect the rights and entitlements of the workers by implementing the Labour Court Recommendation on redundancy terms in full," he said.
Mr. Begg pointed out that Greencore recently announced pre-tax profits of some €60 million and plan to develop a €1.1 billion property site, using the EU aid package.
"The element of the social plan on restructuring aid must first be approved by the member state and ultimately by the European Commission. It is therefore within the gift of the Irish Government to ensure that that plan includes provision for payment of the full redundancy terms as recommended and clarified by the Labour Court," he concluded.
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