SIPTU members at Kostal Ireland announce industrial action for November

Trade union SIPTU has announced that its members at the Kostal Ireland plant in Abbeyfeale will begin industrial action early next month. Radio Kerry reported that the action will start on Monday, November 16, with a four hour work stoppage and pickets beginning at 2.30pm. SIPTU also stated that a further escalation of the campaign could happen at a later date. [1][2]

The dispute centers on redundancy terms and what Radio Kerry reported as management's refusal to engage meaningfully with the union. In January, Kostal announced plans to make 140 workers redundant by the end of March 2027 after deciding to move its production of onboard chargers to China. [1]

Abbeyfeale is a market town located in County Limerick, Ireland, near the border with County Kerry. The wider industrial dispute follows larger labor disruptions in the country. As FTMQ News reported earlier, public sector workers in Ireland have been involved in widespread strike action over pay negotiations. [3][5][6]