Up to 145 jobs will be lost through redundancies at leading soft drinks firm Britvic, the company said today.
Blaming the downturn, the push for savings follows a swathe of cuts at other high profile firms including Superquinn and Dell which have taken unemployment in the Republic past the 300,000 barrier.
Britivic told trade union Siptu it plans to close its logistics units in Cork, Waterford and Donegal, concentrating activities at its Dublin base on the Nangor Road. About 17 workers out of 160 staff will lose their jobs in the Belfast operation.
Billy O’Regan, Britvic Ireland managing director, said the cuts were vital for the company’s future.
“The proposed changes will create a simplified, more agile and lower cost structure that will underpin future growth and competitiveness,” he said.
“It is regrettable but inevitable that these changes, which are vital for the sustainability of our business, will result in job losses.”
Fourteen workers at the Ballygowan plant in Limerick have already been laid off.
Britvic is Ireland’s leading soft drinks firm distributing Ballygowan, 7UP, Club, Mi Wadi and Robinsons and employs about 940 workers. Jobs will go in logistics, finance/IT and sales.
The firm laid off 60 staff from its Cork operations over the last 12 months. Management said it will begin lining up meetings with staff and unions to secure the cuts.
Siptu branch organiser John Flavin said the union was “very disappointed that Britvic did not see fit to consult us before deciding to announce 120 redundancies in its logistics division today".
"We were only notified by phone at 9am, just before an announcement was to our members," he said.
“We will be seeking urgent meetings with the company next week to address the situation. News of redundancies are difficult enough for people to deal with at the best of times, but when they are announced like this without any consultation or preparation it makes the situation even more difficult."
Mr Flavin said the cutbacks would be phased in over a nine- to 10-month period and that this gave the union an opportunity to examine all the proposals in detail.
"We have had a good working relationship with the company in the past and look forward to our meeting.”
Additional reporting: PA