SEMPERIT'S German parent company failed to notify its European Works Council that it intended to close the Dublin tyre plant, when the council met the day before the closure announcement.
Its failure to do so has generated considerable anger among Irish unions at the way new European Works Councils are operated by companies such as the Semperit parent company, Continental AG.
Last Sunday was the deadline for registering voluntary EWC agreements in Ireland. Only about to per cent of the estimated 250 companies in Ireland affected by the directive have so far registered. While some EWC agreements, such as that agreed by Aer Lingus with its unions a week ago, go far beyond the minimum requirements of the directives, others involving firms like CRH, Pepsi Co and Continental have attracted union criticism.
The regional secretary of SIPTU, Mr Jack Nash, said yesterday that the failure of Continental to adequately inform employees of developments involving the Irish plant was adding to their unease about the company's real intentions for the Dublin plant. It is to close on December 6th with the loss of 650 jobs.
However the company says that the reason why the matter was not discussed at the "Euro Forum", as its EWC is called, was out of deference to Irish employees. It was felt they should be notified directly first.
"While no formal announcement was made regarding the imminent decision to close the Ballyfermot manufacturing plant, it was made clear that the future of the plant within the Continental group was uncertain", the company said in a statement. Irish representatives were informed by one senior executive that "the Dublin plant should be very concerned about its future."
Meanwhile the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Richard Bruton, has begun a visit to the US to promote investment in Ireland and discuss the possible acquisition of the Ballyfermot plant by the Cooper Tyre Company of Ohio. He will also be visiting New York, Chicago, Boston, Dallas and Austin.