Bord na Mona: industrial action not ruled out as workers seek urgent meeting with management

unite-white-out-of-redEmergency meeting of Unite and TEEU craft workers demands reversal of decision

Around 100 Unite and TEEU craft members working for Bord na Mona attended a general meeting tonight in Tullamore to consider today’s announcement that the Littleton peat briquette plant is to close with the loss of 69 permanent jobs and the possible loss of a further 56 peat harvesting jobs.

Tonight’s meeting voted unanimously to instruct the Group of Unions to seek an urgent meeting with senior management in an attempt to reverse the decision and secure the terms and conditions of members. In the event of agreement not being reached, workers will be seeking a further general meeting of union members to consider all industrial relations options, up to and including strike action.

Commenting, Unite Regional Officer Colm Quinlan said:

“Our members in Littleton first heard that their plant had been selected for closure over breakfast this morning.

“It is unacceptable that the board of Bord na Mona should take such a decision without first consulting with unions.

“Given the anger expressed by many of our members at tonight’s meeting, the company should be in no doubt that workers will take all necessary actions not only to protect their own jobs, but also to safeguard the future of the local community in which Bord na Mona plays such a vital role”, Mr Quinlan warned.

ENDS

Note for editors:

The following motion was unanimously endorsed at tonight’s meeting of Unite and TEEU craft workers at Bord na Mona:

“This meeting deplores the decision of the Board of BNM, announced today, to cease production of briquettes at the Littleton facility, leading to the loss of 69 jobs, and the placing at risk of a further 56 jobs in peat harvesting. There was no prior consultation with the Group of Unions in relation to this matter. 


We instruct the Group of Unions to demand an urgent meeting with Senior Management to seek to reverse this decision, and to further ensure that any member who wishes to remain in employment on existing terms and conditions of employment, (including geographic location) will have the opportunity to do so.

In the event that an agreement is not reached, we instruct the Group of Unions to convene a General Meeting of all Union Members, at which all industrial relations options will be considered, including recourse to strike action if required”.

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