Hundreds of workers at Element 6 who have been on short working hours for months are set to return to full time status.
It’s understood the concession by management was made during a 3 hour meeting with unions yesterday over the redundancy deal being offered the staff.
The restoration of workers to ‘‘full-time’’ status will remain in place while negotiations continue between the two sides on the unions’ bid for an improved severance deal.
Hundreds of workers at Element 6 who have been on short working hours for months are set to return to full time status.
It’s understood the concession by management was made during a 3 hour meeting with unions yesterday over the redundancy deal being offered the staff.
The restoration of workers to ‘‘full-time’’ status will remain in place while negotiations continue between the two sides on the unions’ bid for an improved severance deal.
The workers were on short-time for several months now, working on a week on/ week off basis as the facility was operating at 40 per cent of its capacity.
The 370 staff face an uncertain future after the multinational pulled the plug on manufacturing and distribution at the Shannon plant and unions are now fighting for a better redundancy deal.
The company has offered almost one-fifth of what was on offer five months ago with workers with 25 years’ experience who would have received €140,000 in February now due to receive €30,000.
Neither side made any official comment following the talks but on her way in Siptu’s Mary O Donnell said Element Six, which was 60 percent owned by De Beers was a cash rich company which had made huge profits
The talks have now concluded fro the weekend but it’s understood they will resume next Wednesday
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