Workers at an electronics devices plant in Co Meath yesterday became the latest victims of the trend which has seen manufacturing companies move production to lower-cost economies, writes Chris Dooley in Ballivor
Some 300 full-time and 50 part-time employees are to lose their jobs at NEC Semiconductors in Ballivor when it closes at the end of September.
Workers expressed shock yesterday after management of the Japanese-owned plant told them it was to cease production as part of a group consolidation exercise, which will result in their jobs being switched to Singapore, Malaysia and China.
They said they had been given no indication that the plant, which has been in operation for 30 years and was Meath's second-biggest employer, was under threat.
Company secretary Joe Carroll, who is among those losing their jobs, said the move would enable the company to hire general operatives at a quarter of the cost of Irish workers, and senior staff at half the cost.
While discussions had been taking place with Siptu about possible cost-cutting measures, there was simply no way the company could achieve the labour cost savings in Ireland which were available elsewhere, he said.
Siptu's Meath branch organiser John Regan was critical of the company for not engaging with the union in the process that led to the decision to close the plant, so as to explore whether any other option was available.
While he did not want to raise any false hopes, the union was not "surrendering to closure" at this point and intended to see if anything could be done "to retrieve something out of this", Mr Regan said.
Most workers leaving the plant after being told of the closure were reluctant to speak to reporters, but the shock among those who did was palpable. Sandra Denehan from Rochfortbridge, a mother of two who has worked at the plant for 11 years, said she had not had time to think about the future.
"It was a reliable job up until now, but that's the way it goes. People are devastated, really shocked, because nobody knew this was coming," she said.
Laurencia Vaughan, who also has two children and worked at the factory for 10 years, said it would be very sad to see it go, as the company had been a good employer. She had received very good training there and hoped this would help her secure an alternative job. "I'm going home now to tell my family."
While most workers who spoke to journalists had worked at the plant for 10 years or more, Marsha Hudson said she had been there for just a year and was "devastated" to be losing her job. She said workers had been told that lay-offs would take place between July and September. "I hope I will get a few weeks' notice."
Shop stewards at the plant said a large number of couples worked there, so the closure would result in a double loss of income in many households.
Local politicians, who gathered outside the factory to await the official announcement of the decision, pointed out that the withdrawal of NEC from the area would be felt in more ways than one.
Fine Gael councillor Willie Carey said the company had involved itself in all manner of community activities.