Union: Coillte merger ‘would weaken company and cut jobs’

A trade union representing workers at Coillte has claimed its proposed merger with Bord na Móna would leave the State forest company considerably weakened, with the potential loss of 100 jobs.

A report commissioned by Impact claims the proposal would see Coillte with a “small and relatively weak voice” within a much larger company.

Impact’s Coillte branch expressed concern that there would be a rebalancing of Coillte’s priorities following a merger which would probably see wood being diverted to energy use rather than maintaining its most economically advantageous use.