Redundancy package a ‘kick in the teeth’ for workers

A LIMERICK company which is closing on May 5 with the loss of more than 100 jobs has been accused of being mean-spirited in the redundancy package offered to workers.

Talks will take place today under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission between Fulflex and three unions - SIPTU, the TEEU and Amicus.

The unions are pressing for higher lay-off terms.

Branch secretary of SIPTU Ger Kennedy said: “In the statement they issued announcing the closure, the company praised the loyalty of their workforce over the years, but they were less than honest in relation to the price they put on the loyalty with their redundancy offer.”

He said the offer was a convoluted one which in effect meant one year’s pay for everybody with 10 years service or the equivalent of the statutory sum for most of the workers.

He said the company were also offering half the proceeds of the sale of the factory premises at the Galvone industrial estate.

Mr Kennedy said they could not see a big demand for the building and it would be difficult to dispose of.

Mr Kennedy said: “This is a white elephant and we see absolutely no value in that element of the package. We told the workers that any deal would not be a post closure.”

Fulflex, which has been in Limerick since 1969, makes elastic for disposable nappies.

One of the workers who will lose his job, John Grimes, said: “The redundancy package on offer from the company is a kick in the teeth to workers who have given loyal service for many years.”