Two companies in north Dublin are threatening to lay off more than 350 workers. Servisair has served protective notice on practically all of its staff at Dublin airport, following rejection of restructuring proposals by SIPTU, and G E Superabrasives wants to make 75 of its 225 employees in Clonshaugh redundant.

SIPTU members at Servisair are meeting today to consider their response to the company's decision. It has announced 13 redundancies and issued protective notice to 272 other staff after failing to secure union agreement to redundancies and radical work changes at a meeting on Monday.

SIPTU branch secretary Mr Dermot O'Loughlin expressed shock yesterday at the decision. Because many of the staff have less than a year's service it means they could be laid off in a matter of days. Mr O'Loughlin described the move as "a bullying type tactic to force through a restructuring programme that may not even be necessary". He said there was no mention of protective notices at Monday's talks and avenues for discussion were far from exhausted.

G E Superabrasives, which manufactures industrial diamonds for General Electrics speciality materials division, blames "aggressive competition" from Europe, Russia and Asia for its difficulties. A spokesman said there had been "double digit price erosion" over the past four to five years. The company is in negotiations with SIPTU on a redundancy package and all staff not required will be let go by February 1st, 2002.