SIPTU has called upon SELC Ireland Ltd to reverse a decision to downgrade its manufacturing facility in Belmullet, County Mayo, which would result in approximately 20 job losses. SIPTU Organiser, John McCarrick, said: “The announcement by electronic lighting equipment manufacturer, SELC Ireland Ltd, that it intends to effectively pull out of Belmullet, the place where the company was founded over three decades ago, has shocked its workers and the local community. “The SIPTU SELC workplace committee has considered a management proposal to establish a new company to maintain some operations at the Belmullet plant and save some jobs. However, the workers believe this is not a viable option and the workplace committee has demanded that the company reverse its decision and instead invest in the Belmullet plant. He added: “The workers are calling upon the management of SELC, in conjunction with Údarás na Gaeltachta and the Western Development Commission, to invest in the Belmullet plant in order to create the space necessary for the company to move the manufacturing of its new Radio Frequency Photocell to the facility. This product was initially developed in Belmullett but its manufacture was moved to Cork because of space restrictions. “The company’s plan would see the loss of over half the jobs in the Belmullet plant, with workers given only statutory redundancy. The downgrading of the plant would also endanger the long-term future of the remaining jobs. The Belmullet area cannot afford to lose these jobs. It is crucial that all is done to support the maintenance of this indigenous manufacturer in the locality.”
SIPTU calls on SELC Ireland Ltd to reverse decision to cut jobs at its Belmullet plant
