London talks to save Element Six jobs
CRUNCH talks were continuing in London this Wednesday afternoon to save as many jobs as possible at one of the MidWest's most prestigious employers.
Workers at troubled Shannon-based industrial diamond maker Element Six (formerly De Beers) were shocked when, two weeks ago, the company informed them it was to close the manufacturing and distribution operations at Shannon.
While the R&D facility was to be retained under the original plan, some 370 jobs were to be lost at an employer long regarded as one of the region's most stable.
Element Six claimed its Shannon base was no longer competitive and manufacturing was moving to lower cost locations overseas.
But workers were given a degree of hope last Wednesday when it was announced that local management had been given seven days to come up with a rescue plan for the manufacturing facility.
General manager Ken Sullivan said the aim was "to develop a sustainable operation at Shannon and save a substantial number of the 370 job losses announced".
Workers at Shannon and SIPTU are sceptical over how many jobs can be saved in any rescue package, and fear inferior terms and conditions in a new operation. SIPTU is also seeking to improve the company's initial redundancy offer, described by workers and local politicians as "pathetic".
It is understood that local management figures were in talks with the Element Six executive this Wednesday, and neither the company nor the union was in a position to comment on the outcome at the time of going to press.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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