Double jobs blow as firms axe 220
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Cork suffered a double jobs blow yesterday with the confirmation that 220 jobs are to be axed at a leading pharmaceutical company and a major meat plant.
Corden PharmaChem confirmed last night it is to axe manufacturing operations at its plant in Little Island, Cork, from next autumn with the loss of 90 jobs.
The announcement came as 130 Dawn Meats workers finished up yesterday at the boning hall in Midleton, east Cork.
Corden said its decision to close the plant was "taken with great regret" after a comprehensive review of its operations.
A total of 97 staff are employed by Corden in Little Island -- but the firm hopes to retain a research and development capability in Cork. However, all manufacturing operations at the plant will cease.
"The plant has operated in Cork under different ownerships since 1976 and has incurred substantial losses in recent years," a spokesman said.
Corden stressed its decision did not reflect on its staff, and blamed "difficult market conditions" for the cuts.
Meanwhile, Dawn Meats workers said they would have accepted pay cuts and revised working conditions to save their jobs. Workers received two weeks' pay as well as statutory redundancy entitlements.
One Dawn worker claimed the bulk of the boning operations would now be undertaken elsewhere by agency workers.
"No one asked us to take a pay cut -- no one asked us about new working conditions. We would have done anything to save our jobs here," he said.
- Ralph Riegel
