Laid-off aircraft workers in line for EU aid

Workers laid off from Ireland’s ailing aircraft maintenance industry are in line for funds for retraining and backing for their own start-ups from the European Globalisation Fund.

PWA International, based in Rathcoole outside Dublin, laid off 108 workers, the third such employer in the industry to shut over four years, with the loss of a total of 1,657 jobs.

Lufthansa Technic Airmotive, also at Rathcoole, closed last year, making 415 workers redundant, while SR Technics at Dublin Airport laid off 1,100 in 2009.