There have been quite a few meetings between SIPTU and POs, and SIPTU and the Mushroom Employers Committee.
They are in negotiation for the new Employment Regulation Order (which some believe to be akin to the employment registered agreement that existed for mushroom workers in the 1970s).
As of yet, they have not reached a finalised agreement, but growers have allowed SIPTU to be the sole negotiator on behalf of the workers.
Consequently SIPTU have got free access into all the mushroom farms in the South, since mushroom workers would have to vote on any new agreement.
It would appear that many growers disagree with the last point, but it is the bigger concerns, such as Monaghan Mushrooms, who seem to be leading here.
Monaghan itself would be used to this type of negotiation. They have been involved with different negotiations with SIPTU since the early 80's in the processing plant at Tyholland and in their compost division.
