THE FUTURE of just over 100 jobs in Longford is likely to become clear at noon today when the deadline expires for expressions of interest in a takeover of B3 Cable Solutions.
If the company’s receiver, Alan Flanagan, fails to secure a suitable owner, the company is expected to go into liquidation with the loss of all 104 jobs.
Union representatives from the cable manufacturer met Mr Flanagan in Longford yesterday. Talks were also held between the receiver and the IDA.
B3 Solutions, which manufactures copper-based cable for Eircom and other customers, has provided employment at its plant at Aghafad near Longford town for three decades.
Former TD and local Labour councillor Mae Sexton believes the outlook for the workers is bleak. Her husband Tommy has been employed at the plant for 29 years.
She claimed management at B3 Cable Solutions travelled to Dublin last year to ask about assistance under the Government’s €65 million employment subsidy scheme.
The 2006 scheme was designed to assist struggling companies.
“I certainly know B3 Cables were in Dublin in relation to this and received no ear,” said Ms Sexton.
She was highly critical of the Government, and claimed the “scheme might have allowed them to get through the recession”.
Now she believed there was little hope for the jobs.
“It’s an absolutely devastating blow for Longford, because the loss of 110 jobs that have been there through good and bad times in the past will have an enormous impact.”
She said while the Longford plant had struggled, B3 Cable Solutions had been investing significant sums in its fibre-optic plant in Spain over the past five years.
Her husband said he would find it difficult to get work due to his age. “I feel more sorry for the younger lads who bought houses at the top of the boom.
“I’m just getting over the shock. It is like a death in the family; when you finally get the last word it is still a shock.”
Mr Sexton described the manner in which the receiver was appointed as “cowardly”.
He said employees had been asked to take the week off as a cost-saving measure. While many of the workers were away the receiver was appointed.
Yesterday, Mr Flanagan, of Deloitte and Touche, would not say whether there had been any expressions of interest in the plant.
Siptu branch organiser Sean Nolan said the receiver had confirmed there were now less than 24 hours to find purchasers interested in buying the company as a going concern.
“Our members are very angry at the manner in which their jobs have suddenly been placed under threat, and it is up to all concerned, including the receiver, public representatives, the IDA and the Government to save this plant before it is too late.”
Fine Gael Longford TD James Bannon described the threat of closure at B3 Cables as indicative of the Government’s “cavalier attitude to job losses”.
“Unless a miracle occurs and a buyer appears before the end of business today, Longford will suffer another body blow to its already hard-pressed economy.
“I want the Minister to give a full account of the measures he put in place to save this company,” he said.
“The workers have a right to know whether the Government has done everything possible to work with the company to prevent job losses. If the lack of co-operation from the Ceann Comhairle is anything to go by, I fear that the effort put in was minimal,” said Mr Bannon.
“I tabled adjournment motions and special notice questions this week and last week, but they were refused by the Ceann Comhairle on the grounds that they were not urgent. What could be more urgent to right-minded governments than averting job losses and company closures?”
Mr Bannon said he would extend every support possible to those affected.