Littleton BNM workers agree to possible wind down talks

Photo © Bord na Móna

Littleton Bord na Mona workers have agreed to enter talks with management about the possible closure of the plant.

However their union representatives says there can only be voluntary redundancies and a substantial package must form part of any wind down arrangement.
This statement from the Bord na Mona Group of Unions comes after a public meeting in Littleton on Tuesday night about the company’s announcement it would be shutting the peat briquette factory next April with the loss of 69 full time jobs – while over 50 other seasonal positions are also in doubt.

The unions say workers expressed real disappointment over the manner in which Bord na Mona treated staff in relation to the decision to close down the Mid Tipp site- however they have decided to provide management with the opportunity to put matters right by engaging meaningfully with their union reps in agreeing an overall package for staff.

The statement adds that the Littleton workers have given their union reps a mandate to look at a range of issues if there is agreement to the plant’s closure including that here can only be voluntary redundancies and that a substantial redundancy package must form part of any wind down arrangement.

They also say wind down discussions must also include the provision of future employment opportunities for staff whose jobs are lost, outplacement training and upskilling.