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90 jobs 'at risk' as plant closes 90 jobs to go as factory closes
(about 1 hour later)
Workers at the Calcast factory in Campsie, Londonderry have been told the plant is to close. Workers at the Calcast factory in Campsie outside Londonderry have been told the plant is to close.
At a meeting between management and unions on Monday Calcast announced: "The company will be closing down as a result of current market difficulties." At a meeting between management and unions on Monday the company said the plant was to close "as a result of current market difficulties".
The company said a reduction in demand and the global financial crisis has led them to close the plant which employs 102 people. 102 people are employed at the plant. Ninety are to lose their jobs, while 12 will be offered jobs elsewhere.
A consultation period with unions is underway with up to 90 jobs at risk. Workers are staging a sit-in at the plant in protest against the redundancy terms.
One of the workers' representatives, Liam Helferty, said employees were told up to 10 staff will be offered jobs elsewhere. Philip Oakes from the trade union Unite said the decision to retain 12 employees means workers will get one month's statutory redundancy notice instead of three.
He said this meant workers will get one month's statutory redundancy instead of three. "As far we're concerned that is them manipulating the figures in order to save around £200,000," he said.
"The employees and the trade union members decided that it would be better for them to remain on site.
"Their view is that if they are to leave at this stage the company might close the gates behind them and not let them back in, so individual members have decided to stage a sit-in at the plant until such times as the issue is resolved," said Mr Oakes.
One of the workers' representatives, Liam Helferty, said workers at the plant were angry at the redundancy terms.
"If there are 99 people or less you're entitled to one month's notice, but if there are 99 or more you're entitled to three months notice."If there are 99 people or less you're entitled to one month's notice, but if there are 99 or more you're entitled to three months notice.
"The company are basically playing a numbers game here in order to save themselves two months notice money, and it's a disgrace," he said."The company are basically playing a numbers game here in order to save themselves two months notice money, and it's a disgrace," he said.
"The workers have been told today they can go home now, but nobody's going home."The workers have been told today they can go home now, but nobody's going home.
"We're not going home to make it this easy for the company, they need to treat us properly," said Mr Helferty."We're not going home to make it this easy for the company, they need to treat us properly," said Mr Helferty.
A consultation period is now underway with unions.
On Friday, unions met management in Paris about the future of the plant which makes cylinder heads for cars.On Friday, unions met management in Paris about the future of the plant which makes cylinder heads for cars.
Workers who were due to prepare the factory for production on Monday were told not to come in.Workers who were due to prepare the factory for production on Monday were told not to come in.
The Foyle MP Mark Durkan said it was a tough time for employees.The Foyle MP Mark Durkan said it was a tough time for employees.
"People face huge uncertainty in their lives, and coming up to Christmas and coming as we face a very serious recession, it's a terrible time for so many families and the local economy," he said."People face huge uncertainty in their lives, and coming up to Christmas and coming as we face a very serious recession, it's a terrible time for so many families and the local economy," he said.
The plant manufactures cylinder heads for the Ford Explorer.The plant manufactures cylinder heads for the Ford Explorer.
Sales of such large vehicles have experienced a huge downturn worldwide in recent months.Sales of such large vehicles have experienced a huge downturn worldwide in recent months.