Since the Abtran pay claim was submitted, one of its key elements has been a call for an enhanced Christmas bonus—greater than €50—that reflects each worker’s length of service. However, Abtran has refused to engage with any aspect of the claim. More recently, the Union raised the issue of a Christmas bonus again, but Abtran once again failed to respond.

While denying its workers the modest requests in the pay claim, Abtran is participating in the Late Late Toy Show drive, where its employees will staff the phone lines.

The irony is heartbreaking. In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis that is severely impacting Abtran workers, their employer continues to refuse to significantly increase wages or offer a fair and dignified Christmas bonus.

We urge Abtran to recognize the hard work of its employees and not use the Toy Show appeal to whitewash a low wage and anti-union job. 

National Organiser Alexander Homits stated that:

“Abtran is a multi-million euro operation that derives the majority of its profits from state or semi-state contracts. It then outsources some of this work to Romania and India in order to maximise the cut of the tender they pocket. Instead of workers in Ireland spending their money in Cork, Wexford or Sligo, the money goes to off-shore vehicles in the British Virgin Islands.  While we know Abtran has no conscience, we know their workers and members of the public do and we call upon them to rally behind the unionisation drive that continues within the company”.