119 job losses announced at electronics firm
Thursday October 15 2009
THERE was another major jobs blow yesterday when 119 workers were told they were being made redundant at the Harris Corporation electronics plant.
The announcement by the US firm followed months of concern over the future of the Little Island plant in east Cork. Harris took over the former Tyco Electronics wireless division plant just last May.
The closure came as the latest blow for east Cork which has already suffered the closure this year of Swissco, Pfizer and Corden PharmaChem and the loss of more than 600 jobs.
However, Imagine, a Dublin-based telecommunications company, said it plans to create 200 jobs over the next two years as it beefs up the next generation of high speed internet services around the country.
The company is investing €100m in the project and said it will create the jobs in "manufacturing and technology".
The new workers will be engaged in adding new equipment to 350 masts around the country which will allow 90pc of the population to use the wireless broadband known as 4G or WiMax.
Cork, meanwhile, was reeling from the job losses -- the area having, over previous years, lost major employers including Irish Steel, IFI and Youghal Carpets.
A 1,000-job biotechnology project promised by US firm Amgen was also cancelled despite millions of euro having been invested in site preparation works.
Last night, Labour Cllr John Mulvihill said the area was now on its knees in terms of unemployment -- with east Cork facing into its bleakest Christmas in living memory.
The latest closure came after a major review of global operations by the electronics giant.
Harris announced its review in August and last week ruled that the Cork plant was surplus to their current requirements.
Severance
Employees were informed on October 6 last that the Ballytrasna plant will now be phased out of operations by June 2010.
Harris confirmed that it has set up an outplacement company to help employees secure new positions elsewhere.
Sources stressed that the severance package on offer is extremely generous with the majority of staff being given nine months to find alternative employment.
"This decision is the result of a thorough assessment of business considerations and existing capabilities elsewhere in the company. It is no reflection on the valued performance of our employees," a Harris spokesperson stressed last night. The Little Island plant currently employs 69 permanent and 50 part-time staff.
Harris stressed last night that this closure will have no impact on their other Irish facilities.
The Little Island facility was established in 1985 as an electronics and wireless development centre.
- Ralph Riegel and Tom Molloy
Irish Independent
