Workers down tools over ‘far worse’ redundancy deal

WORKERS at Element Six stormed out of a meeting with management yesterday and later downed tools, after claims that a new redundancy package offer is worse than the previous package.

The Shannon-based industrial diamond manufacturer has said that 163 extra jobs could be saved. However, workers were told they will have to apply for those positions and accept new terms and conditions.

Meanwhile, the 207 people who will lose their jobs have been offered a redundancy package they say is “far worse” than what was originally on the table.

When redundancies were first mooted, six weeks per year of service with a cap of 2.5 years’ pay, plus statutory entitlements, was the package on offer.

However, on July 22, plans to close the manufacturing and distribution activities in Shannon with the loss of 370 of the 450 jobs were announced. The company said 80 jobs would be kept in specialist areas.

It reduced the redundancy package to the equivalent of 0.7 week’s pay per year of service to be paid on top of statutory entitlements.

A week later, the Shannon management team were given a week by the group to develop a plan to sustain operations in the long-term.

Following two days of talks this week, bosses met workers yesterday and advised them of the proposal.

However, when they heard the sustainability plan, many began to walk out.

Workers were angry that the redundancy package only increased to 2.5 weeks per year of service plus statutory, with a cap of one year’s pay.

SIPTU organiser Mary O’Donnell said: “As soon as the company made the announcement people just got up and left. We had expected the company to come back with the same package which we agreed and was implemented earlier this year… We want negotiations on this and won’t be accepting this at all.”