Meat plant job losses 'will devastate community'

The loss of 100 jobs at a meat plant in Co Laois will devastate a local workforce who have no alternative employment, it was claimed tonight.

Union leaders said the Dawn Group’s plans to amalgamate work from its site in Rathdowney with its facility in Grannagh, Co Kilkenny, will be a huge blow to the community.

Siptu’s Miriam Hamilton said while people are being offered redeployment to Grannagh, only a few will be able to take up this option.

“Many of these workers are only earning 9 euro an hour and making a round trip each day of 180 kilometres is not financially feasible, nor do they have the resources to move house,” she added.

Slaughtering of cattle will continue at Meadow Meats in Rathdowney, with 50 workers remaining at the site.

Local TD Charlie Flanagan appealed to Dawn Meats to reconsider its plan to merge the boning and packing sections, which he maintained will devastate Rathdowney.

“Meadow Meets is a crucial part of Rathdowney’s economic infrastructure,” said the Fine Gael TD.

“The employment that the factory offers sustains families all over Rathdowney and beyond.

“Rathdowney has lost most of its industry over the years and the importance of the meat factory as a local employer cannot be overstated.”

Union leaders are due to meet company management to discuss the wind-down of the boning hall operation, which is due to be completed by the end of August.

Ms Hamilton said the closure is part of a trend within the Dawn Group which has seen production concentrated in a few larger facilities.

“A similar decision was made recently in relation to the transfer of boning facilities from the Midleton plant to Charleville, in County Cork,” she added.

“More workers were able to avail of the redeployment offer there because the two towns are much nearer to each other.

“Even so the Labour Court recommended that workers opting for redundancy in Midleton should receive four weeks pay per year of service and we will be seeking significantly more compensation for workers in Rathdowney because redeployment is not a realistic option.”

Elsewhere Rib World, an Irish specialist food producer, has created 20 jobs and invested 500,000 euro in additional specialist machinery.

A new research and development unit will also be created at its plant in Clonmel, Co Tipperary.

Export sales of Rib World Barbecue Spare Ribs rose significantly since January despite currency weakness and growth has not slowed despite the economic downturn.

Managing Director Bo Nielsen said: “We set up as a specialist producer of pork ribs in 2004 with the intent to be the best in our field.

“We are well on track to become the European leader in cooked ribs and are currently in the top three.”