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2010

SIPTU members at Bitech angry at Glen Dimplex decision to close Dunleer factory

Date Released: 05 Feb 2010

SIPTU members at Bitech Engineering, Dunleer, County Louth, have reacted angrily at the decision of its parent company, Glen Dimplex, to announce the closure of the factory with the loss of over 200 jobs.

SIPTU Organiser, John King, described the decision as “devastating” for the workers concerned, and one that will have far reaching consequences for the Louth area with the loss of revenue generated from employee spending.

Workers representatives and management at the plant have been engaged in extensive talks on a change/cost reduction programme that was overwhelmingly rejected by the workforce in a secret ballot before Christmas. The cost reduction programme would have seen a significant number of redundancies, with the remaining workers having to accept a 20% reduction in their pay and a serious dis-improvement in their conditions of employment.

“The package in totality was unacceptable to the workers, who are already low paid, earning less than the average industrial wage while the Glen Dimplex Group is very profitable. This is a devastating blow to the workers and to the Louth area,” John King said.

SIPTU will be exploring whatever opportunities exist to may save as many of the jobs as possible, he said.





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