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LAST UPDATE | 18 Oct 2023
NESTLÉ HAS ANNOUNCED that more than 540 workers face redundancy at the Wyeth Nutrition infant formula factory in Askeaton, Co Limerick.
The plant, which was acquired from Pfizer Nutrition by Nestlé in 2012, is expected to close by 2026.
The multinational food company has said its decision was partly due to falling demand for infant formula from China as a result of lower birth rates.
It also says that it will close a research and development centre, which is co-located on the site, by 2025.
“We will now consult with all employees and their representative unions,” a statement by Nestlé said.
“Regrettably, today’s announcement means approximately 542 colleagues will be placed at risk of redundancy.”
The company said that it would move the plant’s operations to Suzhou in mainland China and Konolfingen in Switzerland.
“It is proposed that R&D work at Askeaton would be absorbed into Konolfingen, where 365 colleagues work on research and product development across several disciplines, and a satellite R&D centre in Shanghai would be strengthened.
“These proposals have been carefully considered and are no reflection on the excellent contribution made by our employees in Askeaton over many years.”
The company added that it would engage in a consultation basis with employees on the closure, but that it would remain open to approaches to purchase the plant.
Trade union Unite, which represents administrative, technical and craft grades at Wyeth said this evening that workers were shocked to be told the news this afternoon.
Unite is calling on managemet to engage with unions at the earliest opportunity in a bid to examine alternatives to the proposed closure.
“Union members were particularly disappointed to find that the company chose to communicate their plans to the media before informing unions,” Unite regional coordinating officer Tom Fitzgerald said.
Representatives from trade union group Siptu have labelled the announcement as “horrendous” and have called for a meeting with the management of the plant.
Sector Organiser Neil McGowan said: “The plant has provided good employment in the area for decades.”
“It is vital that the decision to close is reversed and as many jobs as possible can be maintained on the site,” he said.
Siptu are also calling for immediate government intervention to save the jobs.
Divisional Organiser Greg Ennis said he will be raising matters at a European Federation of Food, Agriculture, and Tourism Executive Committee meeting scheduled for tomorrow in Brussels.
Ennis said he will do so “with a view to engaging with the Nestlé European Works Council”.
Minister for Employment Simon Coveney has said his “first thoughts are with the Wyeth workers and their families as they received this news this afternoon”.
“It is hugely disappointing news as this facility has provided fantastic employment in Limerick and made a huge contribution to Ireland’s economy,” Coveney said.
He said officials in his Department will now begin a process of engagement with the management and workers in the company.
“The full range of state supports will be made available to the employees, and we will examine each and every option to ensure that the best possible outcome is reached for all concerned.”
Includes reporting from Muiris O’Cearbhaill and Hayley Halpin
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It’s like that episode of Father Ted..”the cliffs are closed Ted”
They took the roads In for the night lol
Careful now!
How does it cost almost $100k a day to maintain a hole in the ground?
Access road maintences,car parks,fish & wildlife services and park rangers wages,search&rescue,fire dept personel and even air traffic control in the actual canyon itself.Be amazed how many military jets,helicopters and ariel tour flites there in there every day of the week when it is open.
Over here on holidays at the moment and I just flew into the Grand Canyon on a helicopter, as that’s a private company running the tours, also the western canyon remained open as it is part of the Indian reservation, however southern and northern canyons ( which is the largest part) remained closed. All access to national parks are closed sealed off, including all access points to the Grand Canyon, really sad to see and slightly irritating considering how far I came to see it! however they need to reopen it, as people are sneaking in, it’s a bank holiday over here this weekend so it’s only going to get worse!
It took more staff to close them than to keep them open. Close the Grand Canyon?
Yawn
How do you close the Grand Canyon? Is there gates on it??
I don’t know about the Grand Canyon, but at Mount Rushmore they closed the car park. When some bright spark realised that you could see it from a particular part of the road, they tried to close the road as well. But of course they want the parks to be open.
Derek, they closed the access roads going to the canyon.
They pulled a big tarp over the Grand Canyon
Up go the prices so….
have your say