Groups of angry workers gathered outside the padlocked gates of the Hartman plant yesterday, trying to come to terms with the overnight axing of their jobs and their livelihoods.
Some had received telephone calls the previous evening telling them not to report for work; others had heard nothing until they arrived at the factory.
"We can't even get in to get our own property out of our lockers," one complained. "They gave us assurances only three weeks ago that nothing like this was contemplated. We were shown a three-year development plan during the year, and we had agreed to increase productivity by 30 per cent."
Ms Pauline O'Connor and her husband, Johnny, have 35 years' service with the company between them. They are among many families where both partners were employed by Hartman. "I have two children and a mortgage," said Ms O'Connor. "If I'd known this was going to happen I wouldn't have set foot in the place."
Mr Jimmy St Leger (36) has four children and has worked for Hartman for 19 years. "I'm only after building a new house with a mortgage," he said. "They told us that the jobs were safe."
Mr Declan O'Connor (26) has eight years' service and was also building a house. "I'm one of the lucky ones. I'm young enough to get another job, and my wife has a job," he commented.
The workers alleged that much of the group's production had been shifted to its plants in Argentina and other countries. They claimed that over recent months most of the huge moulds used for the injection-moulding process had been shipped out of the country and that the workers were told they were going away to be repaired.
Wages have been low; the average figure mentioned was £180 to £190 a week before tax. "They were getting training grants, but I've been in there 18 years and I was never trained in anything," said one man.
The job losses will be a severe blow, not only to the workers, but also to New Ross. "This is devastating news. It's a major, major loss," said the UDC vice-chairman, Councillor Victor Furness. "Our unemployment level is already the highest of any town in the county." He said he would be trying to arrange an emergency meeting of the council later this week.
Mr Peter Goggin, chairman of the New Ross Traders' Association, said the shutdown was a major setback to the town's economy. A meeting of the workers and various local and national interests, including the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, trade union officials and the Co Wexford Minister of State at the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Hugh Byrne, has been arranged for New Ross this morning.