Sir Alex backs sit-in workers at Cork factory

Thirty-two workers on sit-in at a shut down factory in Ireland received a major morale boost after Sir Alex Ferguson joined a growing line of supporters.

The Manchester United manager phoned lifelong fan Jim Power at the Vita Cortex plant in Cork to back their stand.

The staff are now on the 61st day of a sit-in as they fight for owner Jack Ronan to pay full redundancy packages.

Sir Alex joins the ranks of political theorist Noam Chomsky, human rights activist Mary Robinson, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and folk singer Christy Moore in backing the protest.

In a phonecall, the Scot told the workers: “I’m really proud of you standing up for what you think are your rights. Stick in there.”

It is understood Sir Alex, a one-time shop steward, told Mr Power he had been involved in strikes in Glasgow shipyards in 1961.