Jobs lost as Dawn Meats plant set to close
Dawn Meats abattoir in Midleton will now close next week with the loss of almost 100 jobs — weeks earlier than was previously anticipated.
It was confirmed to employees earlier in the week that the factory was to close in January, but following talks with the employees’ union SIPTU, it was confirmed that next Friday will be the last day for the processing facility.
SIPTU represents 44 of the workers, while there are up to 60 agency workers in the abattoir.
Redundancy packages have been negotiated for the SIPTU employees.
In June, more than 100 workers were made redundant after the facility’s boning hall was shut down.
At the time, the company told employees there were no plans to shut down the abattoir. The company offered to relocate some boning hall employees to its facility in Charleville, but this offer was later turned down.
SIPTU representative Ben Weathers said it was a harsh blow for employees.
“We could foresee difficulties down the road when the boning hall closed last June, but the employees still hoped to get a few more years out of it. It is very tough for people to be made redundant just before Christmas week.”
Cork East Labour TD Seán Sherlock reacted with fury to the closure, slamming the Government for what he called a systematic failure to tackle unemployment in his constituency.
“It is the latest in a long line of major losses in my constituency. Tytex in Youghal, the Dairygold and the Co-op stores in Mitchelstown and Fermoy, the beet factory in Mallow — the Government has failed in producing a coherent policy that protects or generates employment in the constituency.
“The priority now is the 44 strong work force at Dawn Meats in Midleton. I urge the company to relocate as many of the workers as possible in the interest of maintaining employment.”
Dawn Meats, established in Waterford in 1980, is one of Europe’s largest food processing companies.
It forms part of the Queally Group, Ireland’s largest privately-owned agri-business.
There was no comment available from the company today.
