Glanbia employees vote in favour of relocation plans

WORKERS at the Glanbia pig meat processing plant in Edenderry, Co Offaly, which was destroyed by fire, have backed a company contingency plan that guarantees them employment.

The company offered alternative employment to all 280 employees while it continues to assess the full impact of the fire that extensively damaged the plant early last Sunday morning.

Workers at the plant yesterday voted in favour of accepting the proposals to relocate most of the jobs to two other Glanbia plants in Roscrea, which is about an hour’s journey from Edenderry. They will be bussed to and from the Co Tipperary town each day.

SIPTU, the Irish Farmers Association and politicians have all called on the company to rebuild the Edenderry plant, which processed 10,000 pigs a week and played a key role in the local economy.

Glanbia Meats chief executive Jim Hanley said the company’s priority is to secure the business for the long term.

“It is still too early to speak about the future of the Edenderry facility but it is our intention to maintain our overall position in the Irish market,” he said.

The company earlier outlined its proposals which involve full-time employment for almost 120 employees. From today onwards, 60 employees will be deployed to the Glanbia-operated Parkmore site in Roscrea.

Sixty administration and sales staff will continue to be employed at the Edenderry offices, which adjoin the factory but were unaffected by the fire. All other employees are being offered part-time work, commencing this weekend at the Glanbia Meats Carrick site in Roscrea.

Mr Hanley said the company has met its immediate objectives to return employees to work as soon as possible and to honour commitments to its farmer suppliers and customers. The focus continued to be on maintaining the business in the long term.

He said the company has advised farmers that all pig supplies will be handled at its Roscrea facilities. He thanked them for their co-operation in scheduling pigs to facilitate the new plan.

Mr Hanley said investigations are continuing into the cause of the fire, but all indications suggest it was accidental.