180 jobs cut as home improvement firm shuts 4 stores

ALMOST 300 job losses were announced in the home improvement and drug manufacturing industries yesterday.

Wolseley Ireland, which owns Brooks, Heat Merchants and Tubs & Tiles, said it was cutting its workforce by 180 across the country and closing down four stores.

“With the ongoing changes in the Irish residential new-build market, Wolseley Ireland is constantly reviewing its business to determine whether existing resources and structures are appropriate for the requirements of the current marketplace,” a spokeswoman said. “This is part of the company’s continued focus to drive efficiencies and reduce costs in light of the unprecedented market conditions.”

She said the job losses would be spread across its head office and branch network. “The 180 posts represent about 19% of the Wolseley Ireland workforce. Wolseley Ireland is also closing four stores, two in Offaly, and the remaining two will be named as soon their staff are informed.”

Drugs firm Elan has announced it is cutting 115 jobs at its ‘fill-finished’ facility in Athlone and at its biological planning operations in Dublin and Athlone.

It said the job losses were part of an ongoing strategic review process.

Meanwhile, there were angry scenes yesterday as management at Diamond manufacturer Element Six (formerly De Beers Industrial Diamonds) in Co Clare told staff that they would have to take a 50% cut in wages by going on a week on, week off roster.

The company announced last December that it needed to cut its 620-strong workforce by 150 and is thought to be seeking a further 70 job cuts, subject to the availability of funds.

Last Friday, 150 workers staged a sit-in at the company canteen in protest at company plans to introduce new working arrangements which would only affect floor staff and not management. The protest was called off after the company agreed to defer the short time roster for one week and hold further discussions with union representatives.

Yesterday, however, 400 workers attended a meeting with senior management where they were told that plans to introduce short-time will go ahead for 220 employees. This will mean that staff will lose 50% of their wages, while the remaining 250 workers, mainly sales personnel, supervisors and senior management, will not have to suffer any cuts.

The 150 voluntary redundancies offered by Element Six have been taken up and those workers have now left the company. Management wants to let an additional 70 workers go.

However, this is dependant on whether money is available to fund the redundancy package.