Eleventh hour talks continue to save 160 jobs in Limerick

ELEVENTH hour talks were continuing last night to try and settle a strike which threatens more than 160 jobs in Limerick.

Workers at Atlas Aluminium, who are members of SIPTU, took official strike action on October 30.

They claimed the dispute was over pay, money owed and work conditions.

However, the company rejected the claims and said the dispute centred on the voluntary redundancy of one worker.

Many of the workers in dispute with the company are Polish.

Pickets resumed yesterday at the Dock Road, outside the plant which makes car accessory parts.

The company has warned that it will be forced to close if orders are not delivered to customers.

The company is demanding SIPTU adheres to the terms of the national wage agreement and deny money is owed to workers.

Atlas Aluminium also denies claims by Polish workers that they are not as well treated as their Irish counterparts.

Not a single complaint, according to the company, had been lodged under their complaints procedures.

Workers also claimed they are owed €2,500 back pay, a claim also rejected by the company.

Atlas Aluminium which set up in Limerick in 1980 makes more than 200,000 components weekly for the motor industry. Its customers include some of the leading global car manufacturers.

Talks got under way last night at around 7pm to try and break the deadlock.

However, fears intensified during the day that the company may close down having issued warnings about its future viability.