Element Six workers unhappy with deal

WORKERS AT Element Six have accused management of treating them with “utter contempt” despite an agreed proposal which could save 160 manufacturing jobs at the factory in Shannon, Co Clare.

A proposition by Irish management to retain the jobs was accepted by senior management of the company in London yesterday following two days of talks.

However, unions at the plant have said they will not co-operate with any job-saving proposal unless the company offers an enhanced redundancy deal.

Earlier this month, Element Six, which used to be known as De Beers Industrial Diamonds, announced it was closing its manufacturing facility with the loss of 370 jobs. The company blamed the high cost of doing business in Ireland for the decision.

It also announced it was retaining 80 jobs in research and development and marketing.

Ken Sullivan, the general manager of Element Six in Shannon, said he was “delighted with the outcome” of being in a position to save 160 jobs. “It will require a comprehensive overhaul of our work practices and a strong productivity drive. Hopefully, all parties can now work closely together to agree and implement the plan quickly over the next few weeks to avoid the wind-down scenario.”

The deal will involve Government support in the form of training grants and temporary wage subsidies. It also involves an enhanced redundancy deal. The company has offered 2.5 weeks above statutory payments, the equivalent of 4.5 weeks in total.

The deal has been rejected by Siptu and TEEU, which represent the majority of the workers.

Siptu union official Mary O’Donnell said the new redundancy terms made them question the bona fides of the company and the potential longevity of any jobs that are retained in Element Six.

“The approach adopted by the company over past weeks, where they propose to renege on previous agreements and have treated the workforce with utter contempt, now places these loyal and honourable employees in a position where there is absolutely no trust that the jobs concerned are for the long-term or anything more than a stopgap to take advantage of the Government subsidy scheme funded by the taxpayer.”