Killeen to shed 55 jobs at Christmas

THIS Christmas 55 people will lose their jobs when Smurfit Kappa closes its Killeen Corrugated Products plant in Ballyfermot, West Dublin, trade union SIPTU said yesterday.

Management told union representatives and workers yesterday morning that the plant would close on December 31 this year, following a downturn in business from its major customers — according to a SIPTU statement.

Fewer than 10 jobs will be retained until March next year, it added.

According to SIPTU organiser Pat Ward, the announcement came as a shock to the workers, who had agreed improved efficiencies and flexibilities following the loss of 53 jobs in March this year.

“Management acknowledged the loyalty and commitment of the workers in the plant but I want to know how that loyalty and commitment can be rewarded,” he said.

“If there must be redundancies, we have advised management that we will be looking for an improvement on the deal negotiated earlier in the year when there were voluntary redundancies — since any redundancies arising out of the closure of the Killeen plant would now be compulsory.”