SIPTU representatives have met with workers and management of German multi-national car parts manufacturer, Kostal, to discuss a sustainable future for its plant in Abbeyfeale, County Limerick.
The company, which also has an Irish plant in Mallow, County Cork, is currently undertaking a worldwide review of its production of on-board chargers.
According to SIPTU organiser Rory Hawkins, there has been much local concern about what impact this review could have on the Abbeyfeale plant.
SIPTU members in both the company’s Irish facilities, he revealed, wish to work with management to ensure that the current review doesn’t have a detrimental impact on their operations.
“The company implemented a voluntary redundancy scheme last year in Abbeyfeale which resulted in approximately 85 job losses,” Mr Hawkins said.
“Several hundred workers, the vast majority SIPTU members, remain employed making car parts including on-board chargers, for electric vehicles. It is a major and important employer in the south west region.”
The SIPTU representative said that workers are “committed to working with the management at the plants to ensure there is a sustainable future for its operations in Ireland taking into account a recent downturn in demand for some of its products”.
“The company’s operations in Ireland remain profitable and we are hopeful that we can work together to ensure that this vital employer, which has been in Ireland for 44 years, remains.”
Mr Hawkins added that the workers in Kostal’s Irish plants “have been highly productive over the decades and shown loyalty to the company. We hope that this contribution will be respected in the review process.”
“Our members are also calling upon the government and IDA to do all it can to ensure the future of these plants and allay the very real concerns in the local community concerning this vital source of employment in both direct jobs and many hundreds more in the wider local economy.”
