SOUTH DUBLIN faces the loss of up to 425 jobs following announcements of cuts at two companies yesterday.
Leading on-line poker site Full Tilt’s Irish arm could axe up to 250 staff from its Dublin base as a result of its withdrawal from the US market.
Meanwhile, Allied Logistics, part of distribution and energy group DCC, is planning to cut its workforce by 175 as a result of the loss of a contract with Dunnes Stores worth an estimated €100 million a year.
Pocket Kings, the Loughlinstown, Co Dublin, operation that provides marketing and technology back up for Full Tilt Poker’s operations, said yesterday that its departure from the US market meant it had to make savings of €12 million.
Its statement said that if all savings were to be achieved through redundancy, then it could have to cut numbers by up to 250, but it would not be able to confirm the exact number until it had completed a consultation with staff.
It is set to begin this process, which will take up to 30 days, shortly. The company employs about 800 people at the Dublin operation.
Earlier this year, a number of Full Tilt executives were indicted in New York state for a range of offences as part of a general US crack down on on-line gambling.
Full Tilt is facing a class action from some clients seeking the return of cash kept in US bank accounts that were frozen following the indictments.
Siptu is seeking an urgent meeting to discuss alternatives to a proposed 175 redundancies at Allied Logistics.
Workers were informed by management yesterday that they were seeking to reduce staffing at the company’s facility in Tallaght from 250 down to 75.
The redundancies are being blamed on the loss of a contract for the distribution of chilled and frozen products for Dunnes Stores.
In a statement, Allied expressed regret that it was likely to have to make up to 175 staff redundant following “the decision of a major Irish grocery multiple to seek to terminate significant logistics contracts to distribute milk, chilled and frozen food to its Irish outlets”.
Allied has been providing Dunnes Stores with logistics services since early 2007.
Siptu organiser John White said: “As the union which represents workers on this site, Siptu are seeking an urgent meeting with the company to discuss all alternatives to the proposed redundancies.”
He added: “Today marks the start of a 30-day consultation process concerning the company’s redundancy proposals. Siptu will use this period to undertake a full and robust engagement with management concerning all alternatives to these proposed job losses.”