Companies announce 290 job losses in the south

THERE were heavy job losses in Munster yesterday with more than 290 jobs axed in Cork and Waterford. DDC Ireland announced operations will stop at its Cork facility by end of the year with the loss of 71 jobs.

The Model Farm Road-based company is a subsidiary of Data Device Corporation (DDC) in New York, a manufacturer of components for the commercial and aerospace sector.

President of DDC, Clifford Lane said advances in technology and a resulting decrease in demand for its products led to company having to shut down Irish operations.

“The decision to cease operations is not related to cost issues and it is ironic that while the company is having a good financial year, news like this has to be announced,” he said.

In July, the company announced the decision to reduce the operations headcount in Cork by 25 production staff and by 14 support personnel. All manufacturing will move to the company’s New York operation.

DDC, which opened its Cork plant in 1991, is now addressing the issue of severance payments.

In Waterford contact lens manufacturer, Bausch & Lomb, has announced it is to cut 200 jobs in Waterford within weeks, reducing its workforce there to just over 1,500 people.

The company announced the temporary job cuts yesterday, saying it has been forced to make adjustments to its world-wide contact lens manufacturing workforce.

“As it has done previously, the company will continue to adjust its temporary workforce to meet changing business conditions, and expects to rehire some of these temporary employees in the new year,” the company said.

The company is changing its contact lens lines, including its one-day products, to newer designs made using more automated, advanced manufacturing technology.

Bausch also laid off 200 workers in plants in Rochester New York and Livingston, Scotland.

The announcement is another blow to the south east and comes hot on the heels last week of Braun’s announcement in Carlow that it was cutting 97 permanent and up to 80 contract jobs in the town.

Meanwhile Heineken Ireland confirmed that 20 jobs would be lost at its Cork brewery. And further job losses are expected due to natural wastage.

Corporate affairs manager Declan Farmer said that the company was undergoing a review of its organisational structure.