Co-op transfer a ‘snob decision’

THE move by Dairygold Co-op to transfer 120 staff from Mitchelstown and Mallow to a new office building in the Cork Airport Business Park was described yesterday as “a snob decision”.

Former Food Minister Ned O’Keeffe made the claim when announcing that Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister Micheál Martin will travel to Mitchelstown tomorrow for crisis talks with local interests about the growing job losses in the co-op.

“This is a snob decision to go to Cork City Business Park. There is no doubt in my mind about it. It is just for snob value. It is a backward step,” he said, pointing out that Mitchelstown and Mallow are well located towns with a good infrastructure.