ICI says it won't increase redundancy offer to IFI workers

Irish Fertiliser Industries (IFI) employees from the doomed Cork and Arklow plants were told by the company's co-owners Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) that they would not increase their redundancy and pension contribution.

According to IFI worker-director Mr Stephen O'Riordan, ICI said it was the norm for the majority shareholder to shoulder the entire cost of liquidation.

ICI has agreed to pay €12 million towards severance payments for IFI workers. The State, with a 51 per cent shareholding will pay the remainder of the €24.4 million package.

Mr O'Riordan said the workers considered the State/ICI offer as "paltry". They are seeking redundancy payments of five and a half weeks per year of service in addition to statutory redundancy payments. This would cost an estimated €65 million.

Following today's two-hour meeting with ICI in London, Mr O'Riordan told ireland.comthe workers would not abandon their claims and would decide their next step at a meeting at Marino Point in Cobh, Co Cork tomorrow morning.

The IFI plants in Arklow, Co Wicklow, Cork, and Belfast are being closed due to a world-wide oversupply of fertiliser. More than 620 jobs will be lost at the company.

IFI staff were angry that delays processing the redundancy paperwork meant workers could not sign on the dole or apply for other posts, Mr O'Riordan said.

Workers have been promised up to €5,000 ahead of their redundancy package being sorted out.

Activity at the IFI plants generated just under €140m million per annum with some €40 million going to the ESB, Irish Rail and Bord Gais.

The Government had invested €34 million in IFI over the last two years in a bid to keep it open. IFI announced it was to close on October 15th. A liquidator will be appointed on Friday.

Some 25,000 tonnes of ammonia is on the IFI site in Co Cork. Staff said they will assist in the cleanup which is being monitored by the Health and Safety Authority.