Element Six workers in Co Clare have voted to take industrial action over the level of redundancy pay offered to staff.
Some 99 per cent of Siptu and 100 per cent of TEEU workers voted in favour of the action.
Siptu regional secretary Pat Keane said it was time for the company to "engage seriously" with unions over the redundancy deal to be offered to departing employees.
"Element Six made its opening bid of 0.68 weeks per year of service, plus statutory entitlements this was not much more than a quarter of the standard package they offered in five previous redundancy deals. Then, less than two weeks ago, they announced they could save an extra 163 jobs at the plant and could increase the redundancy fund from €6.5 million to €8 million," he said.
"It just so happens that the increase of €2.5 million is almost exactly the same amount as the 60 per cent claw back of €2.88 million they will get from the Government redundancy fund. In other words the Irish taxpayer will be bank rolling the operation for them".
Element Six, formerly known as De Beers Industrial Diamonds, announced last month that it was to close its manufacturing and distribution unit in Shannon, a move that would have led to the elimination of 370 jobs.
However, last Friday the company said that more than 160 jobs may be saved after senior management secured agreement from its parent company for the implementation of a new survival plan.
Element Six claimed they had made a significantly improved redundancy offers to those who last their jobs but Siptu rejected this.