"GUTTED." "Devastated." "Wrecked." These were the reactions of workers leaving the Semperit plant in Ballyfermot last night after being told by management that the plant will undergo a phased shutdown over the next three months.
Many were angry and resentful that they had first heard news of the closure through media reports instead of from the company. While the company's 650 workers had feared for months that the plant was close to shutting down, most had until last night clung to the hope that a buyer would be found at the last minute.
As the workers filed out of the half hour meeting, thoughts were already turning to their uncertain financial futures. Few were hopeful of finding continuing employment, particularly older workers who had spent all their working lives with the company.
Most were dissatisfied with the £15 million redundancy package offered to them at the meeting by management. "Tell them we don't want redundancy, we want jobs," said one worker.
According to workers, the average wage for workers on the plant floor, most of whom worked shifts, was around £16,000 per year, while electricians could earn up to £27,000.
Mr David Sheehan (22), who has worked as a tyre builder in the plant for three years, said he had bought a new house worth £67,000 four weeks ago. He is now faced with paying back a £57,000 mortgage. "I'm lucky because my girlfriend works, but I'm sure it's still going to be a struggle," he said.
Workers were angry that during last night's meeting the company had not discussed the possibility of the plant being bought by a Korean firm.
"The place is going to be sold after we have been laid off and then we might be given the option of coming back on contract work or as cheap labour," predicted Mr Sheehan.
Mr Leslie Martin (41), from Clondalkin, who had been a repair worker with the company for 17 years, rated his chances of finding another job as "slim".
"I haven't got a lot of experience and my age would go against me so I wouldn't rate my chances very highly," said the father of four, whose wife doesn't work.
But while last night's news came as a blow to the workforce, most said they had seen it coming. There had already been three weeks of temporary lay offs in the summer and another two weeks are scheduled for early next month.
"There has been a feeling of apathy and a kind of foreboding around the place and I think everybody has been thinking that the worst would happen and the place would close," said Mr Martin.
Mr James Dunne (53), from Rathcoole, who has worked at the plant for 27 years, said he had hoped to be there until he retired. "What am I going to do now? Who wants a 50 year old fitter?" he said. Mr Dunne, whose wife doesn't work, said he would look for work but wasn't hopeful of finding any.
From late afternoon, when workers were first informed about last night's meeting, extra security men were drafted onto the site.
Pledges by SIPTU to fight for the plant's jobs were little consolation to workers last night who compared their situation to that of Packard employees who lost their jobs recently.
Beneath the anger, the overall feeling among the largely male workforce last night was that they had sacrificed a lot over the past few years to help make the company viable and that they had been rewarded with "a kick in the teeth".
Workers said they had lost their floating holidays and had given over to the company a 15 per cent pay rise during the past two years.
"The employees in Semperit have given everything to the company to try to hold on to their jobs and they have been let down. They don't deserve us," said one worker.