Conor Kane
The South East suffered another blow yesterday with news that a multi-national engineering firm in Waterford is to shed 74 jobs, some of which may come about by compulsory redundancy.
Staff at Honeywell Turbo Technologies in Waterford city’s IDA industrial estate were told at lunchtime today that the company wants to implement the redundancies in the coming months, along with short-time work for some other employees.
Some of the redundancies will be compulsory if enough workers don’t avail of the voluntary programme in the first phase of the process, a company spokesman said. “It would depend on what the response is from the employee base,” he said in relation to the company’s offer of voluntary redundancy. “I don’t think we want to stretch it out, the idea is to do it [the redundancy process] quickly. Hopefully, to get it done by the end of the calendar year, would be a loose plan.”
The company, which has its headquarters in the United States, currently employs about 375 people at the Waterford facility but has been examining its Irish operations for some time, having previously cut job numbers in 2008 and 2010. The latest wave of redundancies is being carried out because a product line in Waterford — a turbo charger part — is becoming obsolete. The spokesman said a replacement product line is being implemented by the company “somewhere else,” and not in its Irish operation. Honeywell Turbo Technologies makes engine-boosting systems for cars and commercial vehicles and is part of Honeywell International which employs over 100,000 people in 95 countries. In a statement, the company said it “began discussions” with its staff “on a redundancy programme to reduce the current workforce”.
Honeywell also confirmed it will introduce a “reduced work schedule” until the end of the year. “These actions are driven by a restructuring and productivity improvement plan to create a sustainable manufacturing mix that reflects our customers’ needs and ensures quality employment in the southeast region for the long-term.” They intend to maintain employment for about 300 people at the site on Waterford’s road.
“Honeywell remains committed to providing support to all our employees during this time, including a comprehensive outplacement support package for affected employees.”
The Government recently set up an employment forum in the region to tackle the unemployment crisis which has raged for several years, thanks to a number of high-profile closures and job cutbacks in places like Waterford Crystal, TalkTalk, Teva, Bausch & Lomb, and Honeywell itself.