Workers fight timber plant’s redundancies that are ‘a kick in the teeth’

FURIOUS Fermoy workers, backed by SIPTU, warned yesterday they will fight a ‘paltry’ redundancy offer at a local timber plant, due to close next month.

The Limerick-based McMahon Group, one of the country’s largest builders’ suppliers, are refusing to give a severance package to 27 workers at its Integrated Timber Engineering Company (ITEC) plant.

Worker John Mulcahy said yesterday: “The shutdown announcement was a shock but the redundancy offer was a real kick in the teeth.”

SIPTU branch secretary John Cooney said management, during a 10-minute meeting yesterday, proposed only statutory redundancy. “There’s no severance packet and the company said it’s non-negotiable,” the Mallow-based official said.

“Believe me, the workers are angry. This plant, formerly Barry’s Timber Yard, is as synonymous with Fermoy as the Blackwater River and if McMahon’s think it’s a simple case of shutdown and selling the site as a prime development property, without giving the workers an extra cent, they better have a rethink.”

He said SIPTU would seek an early hearing of the Labour Relations Commission to discuss the matter.

The plant primarily produces roof trusses.

The company blamed the production shutdown on increasing costs, particularly insurance, transport and raw materials.

Seven administration jobs will be retained in Fermoy while the timber production business will be transferred to Drogheda.

Plant worker Mr Mulcahy said: “The notice of redundancy came out of the blue. We were shocked because of the healthy state of the building industry.

“The company’s whole attitude to the lay offs was very high-handed. We thought the redundancy payments would have been more attractive.

“The chances of new job opportunities for many of the workers are slim. One of the difficulties would be adjusting to a new job.

“Those with long service were initially comforted by the thought of a good redundancy package but the current offer is a kick in the teeth,” he said.

Company spokesman Tony Delaney said earlier this week: “We have been affected by rising costs. Unfortunately, we’ve been forced to make this decision.” When contacted yesterday at his Limerick office, he did not comment.

Those losing their jobs include machinists, production operators and forklift workers.