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| Workers blockade firm's premises | Workers blockade firm's premises |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Workers at a haulage firm now in administration are blocking the entrance to the company's premises. | Workers at a haulage firm now in administration are blocking the entrance to the company's premises. |
| The employees of Cloughmills-based Reid Transport Ltd said they wanted to be paid what they are owed and are angry at finding themselves out of work. | The employees of Cloughmills-based Reid Transport Ltd said they wanted to be paid what they are owed and are angry at finding themselves out of work. |
| About 200 jobs are to be lost after attempts to sell it failed. Workers said they were told their jobs were safe. | About 200 jobs are to be lost after attempts to sell it failed. Workers said they were told their jobs were safe. |
| Five lorries are queued outside the depot and are unable to get in. | Five lorries are queued outside the depot and are unable to get in. |
| The employees said they had been informed just five weeks ago that there was no threat to their jobs. | The employees said they had been informed just five weeks ago that there was no threat to their jobs. |
| A letter posted to employees last month described concerns over the firm's future as "unfounded" and "malicious rumours". | A letter posted to employees last month described concerns over the firm's future as "unfounded" and "malicious rumours". |
| On Wednesday, workers arrived for work as normal only to be told they were being made redundant. | On Wednesday, workers arrived for work as normal only to be told they were being made redundant. |
| "All of Reids received a letter from managing director, Liam Reid, that there was absolutely nothing to worry about," said Reid Transport employee Sonia McCready." | "All of Reids received a letter from managing director, Liam Reid, that there was absolutely nothing to worry about," said Reid Transport employee Sonia McCready." |
| 'Already taken steps' | |
| The County Antrim company also has depots in Dublin, London, Manchester and the West Midlands. | The County Antrim company also has depots in Dublin, London, Manchester and the West Midlands. |
| Economy Minister Nigel Dodds said help would be given to the workers | Economy Minister Nigel Dodds said help would be given to the workers |
| He said his department has already taken steps to address the issue. | He said his department has already taken steps to address the issue. |
| "My department has been in close contact with the Department of Employment and Learning about trying to ensure that every possible assistance is given to those workers," he said. | "My department has been in close contact with the Department of Employment and Learning about trying to ensure that every possible assistance is given to those workers," he said. |
| "But more particularly we want to ensure that redundancy payments are made as quickly as possible, especially at this time running up to Christmas." | "But more particularly we want to ensure that redundancy payments are made as quickly as possible, especially at this time running up to Christmas." |
| A letter reassuring staff was sent outEnlarge Image | A letter reassuring staff was sent outEnlarge Image |
| Administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers Efforts said every effort would be made to secure redundancy payments for the workers before Christmas. | Administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers Efforts said every effort would be made to secure redundancy payments for the workers before Christmas. |
| PricewaterhouseCoopers' Garth Callow said the failure to find a buyer meant they had no option but to close the business and "implement an immediate redundancy programme". | PricewaterhouseCoopers' Garth Callow said the failure to find a buyer meant they had no option but to close the business and "implement an immediate redundancy programme". |
| "A small number of workers are being retained to assist with an orderly run down of the operation, but drivers and sub-contract drivers already on the road have been asked to complete their current journey and they will be paid for this work. | "A small number of workers are being retained to assist with an orderly run down of the operation, but drivers and sub-contract drivers already on the road have been asked to complete their current journey and they will be paid for this work. |
| "This is a particularly difficult situation so close to Christmas, particularly when there is no prospect of saving the company and the jobs," said Mr Callow. | "This is a particularly difficult situation so close to Christmas, particularly when there is no prospect of saving the company and the jobs," said Mr Callow. |