Union calls on liquidators to allow bust firm complete orders
The Iralco plant in Co Westmeath closed its doors on Monday with 400 jobs facing the axe, although there was plenty of work on the books.
John Bolger, the national officer of Unite, yesterday met liquidators.
He said there was one last chance to sell the business as a going concern.
“We will be seeking the reopening of the plant with immediate effect so as to give everybody a chance to fulfil existing orders and examine the future viability of the company,” he said.
“Our aim is to minimise job losses and to encourage others to invest in the plant.”
It is estimated these jobs are worth about €8 million to the local economy.
Such huge losses are expected to have a devastating impact on communities and smaller businesses in the midlands.
Unite will again meet Iralco liquidators John McStay and Tom Rogers this morning. They claimed wages were roughly 40% of turnover and that the company’s full order book offered an attractive investment if it was sold as a going concern.
“That is what we will be stressing to the liquidators,” said Mr Bolger.
“There have been issues over pay dating back over the past number of years but this is a loyal workforce and they have never let negotiation spill over into industrial action.
“We have rolled with the punches and are determined to get back in the ring again.
“This business should have a future and we will try everything we can to make sure the people of the north midlands retain the opportunity to work locally.
“We are grateful for the support of politicians but what we need more than anything is to get the plant reopened and show potential investors what can be done.”
Management attempted to cut costs recently and workers were told the company was in dire financial trouble.
Meanwhile, innovative approaches to regional competitiveness were sought yesterday following the threat to jobs at the Iralco plant.
The call came from Irish Rural Link — the national organisation campaigning for sustainable rural communities. Chief executive Seamus Boland said there was an obvious immediate need to try to preserve as many jobs as possible at the plant in question and to find suitable replacement industry.
A taskforce for the midlands may be the immediate solution but only long-term strategies for creating competitiveness in each of our regions will ensure that such threatened closures are not replicated in the coming years, he added.
