163 jobs saved at Element Six in Shannon

One hundred and sixty-three jobs are to be saved at industrial diamond manufacturer Element Six in Shannon after staff accepted Labour Court recommendations.

A wind-down plan for the company's Shannon operation had been announced in July.

In July, the firm announced plans to close its Shannon factory with the loss of 370 jobs, but later put forward a survival plan that would save 160 of those positions.

The workers, however, refused to accept the plan until improved redundancy terms were offered to the 210 employees who would still be losing their jobs.

Staff members have now decided to accept the improved deal recommended by the Labour Court.

Element Six general manager Ken Sullivan today welcomed the news.

"We are extremely pleased with this decision which, along with the earlier acceptance of the recommendation by the management and staff groups, now secures the retention of manufacturing and distribution operations in Shannon for the long term," he said.

"The past few months have been difficult for everyone at Element Six in Shannon, and, as we welcome the vote in favour of the Labour Court recommendation, we are very much mindful that in saving a significant number of jobs there will, nonetheless, also be job losses."