Management at Irish Sugar yesterday rejected a request by SIPTU to review the decision to close its Carlow factory with the loss of more than 300 jobs.
The Greencore-owned company said the closure would proceed as planned on March 11th, in spite of claims that it had acted prematurely. The management said the decision was necessary in the light of impending EU reforms which could threaten the viability of sugar production in Ireland.
Union leaders, farmers and local politicians claimed the company had weakened Ireland's hand in the reform negotiations by acting in advance of the outcome. Mr Michael Browne, SIPTU's Carlow branch secretary, said union representatives told management at yesterday's meeting that it had "jumped the gun" in deciding to close the plant.
"We told them other avenues should be explored and sought a commitment to that effect, but the company refused and said the closure would go ahead."
The union is to hold a general meeting of workers at the plant in Carlow tonight to decide its next move.
While severance terms were not discussed at yesterday's meeting, Mr Browne said the union had "put down a marker" that the package on offer was not acceptable. That would give workers five weeks pay for each year of service, in addition to statutory entitlements. A spokesman for Irish Sugar said the meeting was part of the consultations regarding the "orderly implementation of the [ company's] rationalisation programme".
He said there was a "recognition and acceptance" of the closure decision and the reasons behind it. Further talks would take place with the unions on issues such as the company's provision of advice and guidance on career and retirement options.
Meanwhile, Mr Jim O'Regan, chairman of the IFA's sugar beet section, said it was up to Greencore to ensure farmers suffered no disadvantage as a result of the company's "unilateral" decision to move all beet processing to Mallow.
