This article is from page 3 of the 2006-08-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
STAFF at the former De Beers plant in Shannon were today expected to be told that the company plans to shed more than 50 jobs.
Staff were summoned to a meeting planned for 11am this morning for what was expected to be a redundancy announcement.
The company says that the move will secure the future of the plant in Ireland. Nevertheless, the announcement represents a serious blow for employment prospects in the region.
Rumours had been circulating in the factory – now re-branded as Element Six – for some time.
The figures being mentioned were between 50 and 60 jobs, which are expected to be axed from the administrative side of the company.
It is understood that the redundancies will be implemented on a voluntary basis and are being brought in as part of a restructuring of the company.
Union representatives had been briefed in advance of today’s meeting but were remaining tight-lipped on what they had been told last night.
Former De Beers employee, Deputy James Breen said that while he was sorry to hear of the job losses, he was pleased that the future of the company in Shannon was being made secure.
“I am sorry to see a reduction of staff there again. As a former staff member, I am sorry to see the jobs go but seeing that the future of the company is secure is good news and I welcome that the redundancies are voluntary,” the deputy said.
De Beers Industrial Diamond Division established a factory in Shannon in 1963 and became the jewel in the crown of the Shannon Free Zone. In 2002, the company rebranded to become Element Six.
Element Six is now one of the world’s leading suppliers of superabrasives and industrial diamond materials, including both diamond and the complementary superabrasive cubic boron nitride (cBN)
Diamond and cBN products are mainly used in the manufacture of tools for applications including drilling, sawing, cutting, grinding and polishing of different materials such as ferrous and non-ferrous metals, natural stone and concrete, wood based materials.