American firm seeks voluntary deals to cut 200 jobs

AN American-owned company said yesterday that it hoped a “very attractive” severance package will enable it to shed 200 jobs through voluntary redundancies.

R Donnelly Global Turnkey, which is based at Hollyhill in Cork city, is relocating some of its production to the Czech Republic, where wages are far lower.

While the company refused to say how attractive the severance package is, The Irish Examiner understands it is planning to offer seven weeks’ pay per year of service.

Last September, Banta Global Turnkey — as it was then known — announced that it was looking at downsizing its operations in Cork.

Its new owners have confirmed that they intend to proceed with that plan and are understood to be already talking to a number of staff who are looking at the possibility of taking up the severance package offer.

The company employs about 350 people in Cork.

Of the 200 jobs to be shed, 75% are permanent with the remaining 25% temporary.

The company said it would also provide out-placement assistance to eligible employees.

A spokesman for Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin said the Government would ensure those made redundant by the company would get the support they needed to find alternative employment.

“The minister is going to ensure the job-creating and training agencies of the State will continue working with those workers who must find alternative employment,” the spokesman said.

Councillor Dave McCarthy said the Hollyhill area would be hit deeply by the redundancies.

Meanwhile, Councillor Tony Fitzgerald said it was a great disappointment that some of the jobs had been lost overseas.

Mr Fitzgerald pointed out that the company had been a great contributor to the local economy for a number of years, and had been involved in several community projects, especially the Knocknaheeny Youth Project.

“There’s not a great lot of jobs going around at the moment. I want to know if anybody is going to help the workers get new jobs. I’m asking the IDA to move in now and bring something new to the area,” Mr McCarthy said.

R Donnelly Global Turnkey is a market leader in producing computer manuals, books and catalogues as well as special interest magazines.

The operation was established in Cork in 1995. The company, which has its headquarters in Wisconsin, employs about 2,200 employees in 11 facilities worldwide.