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Workers protest as factory shuts Meeting to resolve factory sit-in
(about 1 hour later)
Workers at the Calcast factory in Campsie outside Londonderry have spent the night staging a sit-in protest at the plant. Meetings are to continue at the Calcast factory outside Londonderry on Tuesday to try to resolve a dispute over redundancy terms for 90 workers.
On Monday management said the plant was to close "as a result of current market difficulties". Employees at the car parts plant in Campsie staged a sit-in protest in the factory overnight.
102 people are employed at the plant. Ninety are to lose their jobs, while 12 will be offered jobs elsewhere. On Monday, management said the plant was to close "as a result of current market difficulties".
The decision to retain 12 employees means workers will get one month's redundancy notice instead of three. Workers are protesting at the offer of one month's statutory redundancy notice, rather than the expected three.
Shop steward Gerald McClafferty said workers at Calcast were being supported by colleagues in Belfast who may refuse to ship parts made at the Derry plant.
"Parts have been shipped out of here and they're sitting in Belfast and the gentlemen in Belfast are refusing to handle these heads until this is resolved.
"The legal teams are going to speak together, and we're going to have a further meeting sometime today to try and progress where we are," said Mr McClafferty.
A total of 102 people are employed at the plant. Ninety are to lose their jobs, while 12 will be offered jobs elsewhere.
Donna Lynch worked at Calcast, along with her fiancée: "I have a wedding planned for next year.Donna Lynch worked at Calcast, along with her fiancée: "I have a wedding planned for next year.
"So the two of us are currently unemployed and both of us has children, it's not looking very cheerful. Everything's on hold at the minute until we see what's happening.""So the two of us are currently unemployed and both of us has children, it's not looking very cheerful. Everything's on hold at the minute until we see what's happening."
Philip Oakes from the trade union Unite said its members decided it "would be better for them to remain on site".Philip Oakes from the trade union Unite said its members decided it "would be better for them to remain on site".
"As far we're concerned that is them manipulating the figures in order to save around £200,000," he said.
"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."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.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," he said."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," he said.
Representatives from Unite have said there will be a meeting later with workers to see how they can move the situation forward.