WORKERS at the Farah clothing manufacturing company in Galway have rejected a redundancy package offered by management of the US-owned facility, which last week announced its closure with the loss of 70 jobs.

Some 50 of the workers, who are members of SIPTU, issued a statement describing the package as "unsatisfactory and disappointing" and rejected it in a unanimous vote yesterday. Farah (Export) Ireland Limited announced the closure following a fire at the plant three weeks ago.

SIPTU representative, Mr Brendan Glynn, said the workers felt let down by the company given that a majority of them had over 15 years service.

Management at the plant refused to comment on negotiations with the workers which are due to resume on Friday but reiterated that the closure was as a result of on-going rationalisation. The fire had "sealed the fate of the Galway plant", a spokesman said.