A strategy to try to prevent the closure of the Guinness packaging plant in Dundalk and the down-sizing of its brewery in the town is expected to be announced tomorrow by the Joint Union Forum in its two Dundalk plants..
Shop stewards in the packaging plant have said they do not accept the decision that it must close by the end of September, with the loss of 190 jobs.
A spokesman for the Joint Union Forum said it was also rejecting Guinness's plans to "radically transform" the nearby brewing operation, which would see the loss of 100 jobs. Guinness announced the plans on Friday, following a review of its production operations in Dundalk, Liverpool, Belfast and Runcorn.
"We want Guinness to revisit its review. We did not have an opportunity to consult or be consulted on the content of the review," said Mr Brendan Hodgers, regional organiser for the ATGWU.
The union strategy will be detailed after the forum meets Guinness management tomorrow at a meeting scheduled before Friday's announcement.
High labour costs are believed to be behind the decision to close the packaging plant. The forum is prepared to have the company's costings examined by independent experts.