Former Dell workers set up support organisation
A further 5,000, made redundant by companies that supplied goods and services to Dell, will also be supported by the group, the Dell Redundant Workers Association.
Yesterday, they set up an office in the Griffith College building in Upper William Street. More than 600 have joined up already.
A total of 100 of the former 1,900 manufacturing staff are still on site. But Dell confirmed yesterday those workers will be laid off by the end of this month. The firm also has 1,000 workers in an adjoining facility in Raheen which supplies Dell with global and European back up services as well as administration supports.
Denis Ryan, chairman of the workers’ association, said there were a number of immediate issues they will be working on for people who have been made redundant due to Dell’s transfer of its operations to Poland.
“Our priority will be to get the Government to release money from the European Globalisation fund which has been approved by the EU to help workers who have lost their jobs.”
Mr Ryan accused Tánaiste Mary Coughlan of dragging her feet on the issue.
“We wrote to her before Christmas requesting a meeting. We have also contacted all the public representatives in the area.
“The minister is too slow and our association has a mandate from the former Dell workforce to press for action. People are really annoyed at the delay in seeing the globalisation fund being released to help workers. It’s being going on for six months now.”
A total of €23 million has been allocated under the EU globalisation scheme.
Mr Ryan said some money from the fund should be given to assist the newly-formed association.
He said Ms Coughlan’s department and its various agencies such as Fás should have moved to put in place structures to facilitate the quick rollout of the fund.
The state agencies should now deal with the workers’ association, he added.
A number of third-level courses are due to begin in coming weeks to help the former Dell workers retrain and upskill.
Mr Ryan said the group will help and advise workers who wish to take up issues with the Labour Court and Rights Commissioner.
Labour MEP, Alan Kelly, who supported workers when they sough an allocation from the EU fund, said the Government needs to act to get the money allocated to the workers. “It is crazy, absolutely ridiculous. There is only 18 months left to secure this funding. Minister Coughlan needs to get her act in gear because I am very disillusioned about the lack of response from the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment.”
