The below letter was sent to Cork South West TDs Holly Cairns, Michael Collins, and Christopher O’Sullivan on Friday. Ukrainian workers who work in Staunton Foods Ireland are worried that they will be sent to the front lines when their residency status expires.

“A Chara,

This trade union represents several Ukrainian workers who have been employed at Staunton Foods in Timoleague, Co. Cork for several years.

We have recently had cases where passports have expired and when contact was made with the Ukrainian embassy the applicants were informed that they would have to sign on for the Ukrainian military before their passports could be renewed.

These workers want to remain in Ireland working in Staunton Foods and contributing to our economy and to the financial well-being of their families. We ask you to appreciate that sending these workers to the front raises all sorts of moral questions and dilemmas.

We don’t believe that it is fair or correct to effectively press gang these workers into military service. We are asking you to make representation to the appropriate governmental department to waive the 5 year residency requirement should these Ukrainian workers wish to apply for Irish citizenship.

Is mise,

Jamie Murphy

General Secretary”