A gathering of some former Vita Cortex workers was held at the recent spirit of mother Jones summer school under moderator Anne Piggott, member of the Cork Mother Jones Committee.
The discussion which took place among the former workers was both engaging and inspiring and often very humorous as they discussed events during the 161 day sit-in at the Vita Cortex factory which manufactured foam for the furniture industry on the Kinsale Road.
Just before Christmas 2012 on the 15th December the employees were told that the factory was closing and they were being made redundant and would not receive their pay.
Instead of meekly accepting their lot, the twenty three workers began a sit-in at the factory which continued for 161 day until May 2013 when after negotiations under the Labour Relations Commission between the union and the owners they were paid their full outstanding redundancy payments by the owners of the company.
The sit-in which captured the imagination of the country and gained massive support from the people of Ballyphehane and Cork as well as messages of support from all over Ireland and the wider world finally ended on 24th May. They appeared on national television and spoke on all the major stations as well as obtaining extensive newspaper coverage. Huge marches of support organised by the Trade Union movement were held in Cork City and the workers were invited to Aras an Uachtarain to meet President Michael D. Higgins.
The workers gathered to tell their wonderful story at the Spirit Of Mother Jones Festival and received a standing ovation from the large crowd present.
