Kildare South TD Fiona O’Loughlin says she will support a planned strike by workers in the Bórd na Móna plant at Kilberry. Representatives from a group of drivers at the Kilberry plant contacted the Newbridge based deputy regarding a proposed strike to protest against the outsourcing of road haulage jobs.
This outsourcing will impact on 13 drivers from the Athy area.
"The workers say that no costing has been carried out on their area of operations (the horticultural sector) and that therefore, no potential savings have been identified with the outsourcing of their jobs.
"majority of the drivers involved are in the 55-65 age group and will be retiring in the next few years. "They believe strongly that they should retain their fleet until then. The company has offered to redeploy the workers but this is not a satisfactory solution. Mediation with the JIRC failed to produce results and the workers now plan to strike on Thursday 16 November" said Deputy O'Loughlin.
She added: “The Bórd na Móna plant in Kilberry is a really important employers in the Athy area and the planned move to outsource road haulage jobs would have very negative economic consequences for the area. Bord na Móna is a very important employer in the midlands and has a responsibility to these workers. I fully support the strike and I will raise the matter in the Dáil at the earliest opportunity.”
Deputy O'Loughlin raised concerns about the Kilberry plant earlier this year when Bórd na Móna's acquired one of the UK`s most successful horticulture companies, White Moss Horticulture Limited. At that time, the Kildare South TD sought assurances about the positon of the composting plant in Kilberry, Athy which carries out similar work.
"Sustaining jobs in Ireland should be first priority for Bórd na Móna" stated Deputy O'Loughlin who wrote to Bórd na Mona CEO Mike Quinn seeking these assurances, and also to Minister Denis Naughton querying the level of consultation with Government, and also if he, the Minister had sought any assurances with the new acquisition.
The moss peat production and greenwaste company in Kilberry has been open since 1947, when the then Minister for Industry and Commerc, Sean Lemass TD opened it on 23 July of that year. It has provided great employment in the Kilberry area over the years and currently employs about 30 people.
Bórd na Mona was established over 80 years ago to develop Irelands peat resources for the economic benefit of Ireland. Peat was used to generate power and electricity, and as importantly the generation of jobs and building communities. “Many of our smaller towns and villages in South Kildare owe their development to Bord na Mona, not least my own home town of Rathangan” she noted.
"There are many families dependent on the continued viability of the Kilberry plant, and it is crucial that those employees and the wider community receive the necessary assurances that their jobs are not at risk. Local Councillor Martin Miley, Mayor of Kildare shared Fionas concern. “I have extended family and friends working in the Kilberry plant, any possible negative change to the existing jobs would be detrimental to Kilberry and the town of Athy”
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