THE FIRST major fallout from Dell’s decision to close its manufacturing facility in Limerick is expected at the RR Donnelly plant, also located in the Raheen Industrial Estate, where it is feared 400 workers could be laid off.
Formerly known as Banta Turnkey Solutions, RR Donnelly was one of Dell’s main suppliers and at one point employed 700 people.
Last November the company announced it was to shed 65 jobs following grave concerns over the future of Dell in Limerick. It is now feared an announcement over the future of 400 jobs at the Raheen plant is imminent.
It is understood a meeting was held last week where staff were put on protective notice and told that details of a redundancy package would be made available in the near future. Siptu branch secretary Karen O’Loughlin said yesterday that RR Donnelly was heavily reliant on Dell.
“Their reason for existence is to service the Dell operation so unless they are going to agree contracts with other companies or change their business completely they will be phased out,” said Ms O’Loughlin. “My information is that the employees have been told that their jobs will be phased out,” she added. Management at RR Donnelly has refused to comment on the impending layoffs or on reports from some workers that staff were put on protective notice “almost immediately” after the announcement by Dell to shed 1,900 jobs at its plant in Limerick.
Meanwhile, packaging company Europaks, which employs about 120 workers at the Galvone Industrial Estate in Limerick, was set to meet staff last night to discuss shorter working hours.
