Limerick hit as up to 800 lose their jobs

LIMERICK was reeling yesterday after news that up to 700 temporary workers were to be laid off at computer giant Dell and 100 people are to lose their jobs at Flextronics.

Although the 3,000 permanent Dell jobs are not affected, the scale of the temporary layoffs has sparked new fears over the future of the biggest employer in the mid-west, where a further 10,000 jobs are dependent on the facility. A Dell spokesperson would not quantify the scale of the job losses, saying there was nothing unusual in the reduction of temporary staff. However, sources at the plant said the number could be as high as 700. Yesterday marked the end of the business quarter and the company said it was standard practice to let temporary workers go at the end of a cycle.

Up to 100 of the 290 full-time jobs at Flextronics are to be lost next week. The company would not comment. Flextronics provides warehousing and logistical services to companies including Dell. Talks between unions and the company have been ongoing and a decision on the number of job losses is expected next week.

Karen O’Loughlin of SIPTU said: “We are in talks with the company at the moment to try and manage the current contraction in the economic climate. I... can’t stress strongly enough: the core business is very solid and the company is actively pursuing business as they always do. But in the current economic climate, obviously there is a very keen eye on the bottom line and costs.”

Michael Noonan TD yesterday demanded that Tánaiste Mary Coughlan needs to tell people what she knows about the future of Dell. “We know that Dell Ireland is to let go hundreds of temporary staff, however, their confirmation that hundreds of other temporary workers are to be let go at the end of the business quarter is worrying and the Tánaiste needs to clarify what is going on.

“Even if these jobs are temporary, they still are jobs that are being lost and the sheer volume, several hundred according to a company spokesperson, is a cause of major concern,” he said. Mr Noonan also said the response from the Tánaiste and Limerick Government ministers Willie O’Dea and Peter Power lacked urgency. “Both the Tánaiste and Minister Willie O’Dea need to be out front supporting Dell... We need to be looking at research and development units rather than closure... The Government must clear the air for once and for all, and spell out what exactly is the position with Dell and what steps the Government have taken or propose to take to avert what would be an appalling economic disaster.”

Meanwhile, it was feared last night that 54 jobs may go with immediate effect at Hannon’s poultry factory in Co Roscommon.