Unite calls for urgent meeting between Bord na Mona and government officials while Kildare Chamber plans to support workers following job losses
Trade union Unite has called on Minister Richard Bruton to convene an urgent meeting with Bord na Mona officials following today’s confirmation that up to 430 jobs will be lost at the peat-making company in the coming years.
It was confirmed that there will be job losses across the Midlands, while the headquarters in Newbridge and a plant in Kilberry, Athy, will be seriously affected in the short term due to the closures.
The job losses follow a decision by the company to close 17 of its 62 active bogs immediately, with harvesting at the remaining 45 bogs expected to stop by 2025.
Bord na Móna Chief Executive Tom Donnellan said the decision has been made necessary because of the need to decarbonise energy sources in response to climate change.
Unite Regional Officer Colm Quinlan called on Minister Richard Bruton to convene an urgent meeting with Bord na Mona, the ESB and other stakeholders in order to progress the proposed agreement between the two companies which would see Bord na Mona supplying peat to two ESB peat-fired power stations in Offaly and Longford. Mr Quinlan also warned that industrial action early next year was a real possibility if progress is not made.
Commenting following today’s Bord na Mona board meeting which finalised the redundancy plans, Unite Regional Officer Colm Quinlan pointed out that the redundancies projected today far exceed those provided for in the agreement reached between the Group of Unions and Bord na Mona in early 2016:
“In 2016, following intensive engagement at the WRC and Labour Court, a comprehensive cost-cutting agreement was reached which is due for renewal next year. This agreement was predicated on a phased reduction of peat production up until 2030, which would have required minimum redundancies with job reductions largely achieved as a result of natural attrition, and provided for some new jobs to be created during that period.
“However, developments since then mean that the reduction in peat production is now to be accelerated, and today’s board meeting proposes redundancies as early as the beginning of 2019. Even that plan, however, is predicated on the finalisation of an agreement for Bord na Mona to supply peat to two ESB power stations in Offaly and Longford. Yet negotiations on this have dragged on for two years and the ESB has not yet finalised planning permission for the stations.
“In the event that this agreement is not progressed, and the planning process is not activated as a priority, the level and pace of job losses could significantly exceed those announced today.
“Unite is calling on Minister Richard Bruton to convene an urgent meeting of all stakeholders to progress the agreement between Bord na Mona and the ESB. At the same time, the Government needs to lobby at European level to ensure that workers and their communities can access an EU-wide ‘Just Transition’ fund.
The County Kildare Chamber has also issued a response to the closure, stating that they will look to work with the government and key stakeholders in a bid to find employment for those who will lose their jobs.
Allan Shine, CEO of the County Kildare Chamber this afternoon said; “People affected by today’s announcement will need immediate reassurances that suitable employment will be available in the short term. This is the key message we will have for Government and for the Minister. Obviously, with an ever changing economy, Bord na Mona now needs to diversify and the decision by them today, I am sure has not been taken lightly.