Bust-up ends after undisclosed compensation agreement 

A dispute between Murphy and Unite over alleged union busting has been settled with an undisclosed compensation payment. 

The long-running campaign had seen the union target the Camden-headquartered firm鈥檚 customers, businesses and lenders, including a protest at Mott MacDonald earlier this year. 

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Source: Unite the Union

Unite鈥檚 general secretary said the agreement vindicated its strategy of putting pressure on the contractor in Ireland and in the UK over the four workers (pictured)

Four Unite members who were working as fitters and welders on a refurbishment project at the Aughinish Alumnia refinery in Limerick were dismissed by Murphy鈥檚 Irish subsidiary in August and September of last year. 

According to the union, the contractor suspended 15 workers who held a meeting over non-payment of travel and subsistence fees, later sacking the organisers of the meeting, one of whom was a Unite rep. 

Murphy had maintained that it acted in response to an 鈥渦nballoted, unnotified, and therefore unlawful strike action taken by a small minority of workers鈥� and refuted Unite鈥檚 claims of union busting. 

The parties confirmed today (Friday) that the dismissal of the so-called Murphy Four had been settled following negotiations between the pair. 

鈥淭he terms of the settlement are confidential, other than the parties being entitled to say that following rejection of reinstatement by the Complainants, compensation has been paid by the Respondent to the individuals,鈥� Murphy said in a statement. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 鈥淯nite left no stone unturned to secure the vindication of our members in Ireland who were dismissed by the Murphy group of companies on what Unite believed to be spurious grounds. 

鈥淭his outcome totally vindicates Unite鈥檚 approach of never backing down 鈥� but instead giving total and unwavering support to our Unite reps.鈥� 

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