The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has called on the IDA to review its strategy for attracting industries to Ireland following the Seagate closure.
The ICTU general secretary, Mr Peter Cassells, said the Government should also ask Seagate "for a significant contribution" to the task force being established to find new jobs for the 1,400 employees.
The SIPTU president, Mr Jimmy Somers, criticised Government policy for tolerating "a culture of secrecy" from antiunion companies investing here. He extended his sympathy to the workers and said SIPTU was willing to meet workforce representatives to provide what support services it could.
Seagate workers are not members of any union.
SIPTU will probably offer the services of the Irish Trade Union Trust to Seagate members. The trust was set up by SIPTU to help workers in companies facing drastic restructuring or closure. It is currently providing support services for most of the 315 Asahi workers whose plant closed in Ballina, Co Mayo, last month.
Mr Cassells said last night: "The first priority must be to find new jobs for the Seagate workers and their families. Secondly, the time has come when companies can no longer pull up their roots and leave this country without consulting their staff, leaving the Government and the country in the dark.
"These companies are operating here in a very benign environment. They pay very low corporation tax, enjoy the advantages of a very competitive economy, significant grants from the Irish taxpayer and they must show greater respect for the workers, general community and Irish Government.
"In that context, Seagate should be asked for a very significant contribution to the task force being established for Clonmel. Also, the IDA should review its strategy for attracting industry here and ensure companies coming to Ireland put down deeper roots."
Mr Somers described the closure as shocking. "My sympathy goes out to the workers and their families. I do not accept that there can be any justification for the cruel and contemptible manner in which they have been treated.
"I believe this incident must represent the very last time that we, as a nation, accept that it is in any way appropriate for workers to be kept in the dark and denied pertinent information about their futures. For too long industrial policy has tacitly accepted a view that jobs at any price is an acceptable basis on which to proceed.
"The absurdity of allowing a culture develop which implicitly denies workers vital information on key industrial decisions has been revealed in all its starkness. For too long there has been acceptance of a culture of secrecy regarding management decisions."