HUNGER STRIKER REJECTED 84,000 PAY OUT
Over a week on hunger strike and the outlook for John Lane is, it seems, for a bleak and cold Christmas as he continues his protest at the New Square in Mitchelstown.
Mr Lane, who began his protest last week, has rejected a pay out of €84,000 which his former employers 4Home Stores claim to have offered in a redundancy deal. Following the closure of the 4Home Stores in Mitchelstown, which left 30 employees without jobs, the matter was referred to the Labour Relations Commission (LRC).
Following a recommendation from the LRC, the former employees agreed to a new deal with 4Home Stores.
However, John Lane, who had 38 years service with the company, rejected the offer and is now on hunger strike demanding that the full LRC recommendations are put in place.
While 4Home Stores management issued a statement last week to the effect that they were not in a position to renegotiate with John Lane or to discuss the details of his redundancy package, they did say that they were worried and concerned about his wellbeing.
Now, eight days later and as the protest continues, 4Home Stores have issued another statement this time outlining the package on offer to John Lane in detail and saying that no further negotiations can take place at this time.
However, John Lane has told The Avondhu that he will not give up his protest until the LRC recommendations are implemented in full.
Mitchelstown parish priest, Fr Michael Fitzgerald, has encouraged the Ballylanders native to abandon his protest but this call has also been rejected.
Local TD Ned O’Keeffe has also called for common sense to prevail and for John Lane to enter into talks with the company.
Now two days before Christmas John Lane has spent a week in his car in sub zero temperatures with no end in sight to the protest.
Published:
Monday 4th January 9:58am
