The decision to close Irish Fertiliser Industries with the loss of 620 jobs is driven by political ideology, a demonstration of over 300 workers at the company heard today.
Protesting outside the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment today, the workers heard that the Progressive Democrats were intent on developing in Ireland an economic model akin to South East Asia.
Worker Director at IFI, Mr Stephen O'Riordan said: "They believe that to treat workers fairly, is to make Ireland uncompetitive."
Workers have been told up to 60 per cent the value of their pensions are likely to be wiped out by the closure and that they can expect little more than statutory redundancy pay.
Following a surprise meeting at the Department's headquarters, SIPTU national industrial secretary Mr Noel Dowling told the gathering the Department were maintaining €26.4 million was being made available for redundancy payments "and that's there all there's going to be".
He said workers should continue to fight for improved terms, adding that pressure on local politicians should be maintained. He said a protest in London outside the offices of ICI - who have a 49 per cent stake in the company - would be organised and that he was seeking a meeting with the Tanaiste next week. He also urged activists to attempt to get the Taoiseach to speak on the matter tomorrow night when he visits Cork.
IFI plants in Belfast, Arklow and Cobh are being closed with up to 200 people receiving their last pay cheque today or tomorrow. With the current level of redundancy payments scheduled to paid next January, concern was expressed that the workers would be left without an income for nearly three months. With the dispute over the closure still ongoing, it could prove difficult for those dismissed to secure dole payments until the matter is settled.
However, Mr Dowling said the Department was looking into ways of making advanced payments to redundant workers.
A number of politicians were present at today's demonstration by workers from all three plants and Labour Party Mr Pat Rabbitte addressed the gathering.
He reflected widespread dismay among workers over the Department's hard line. The State holds 51 per cent stake in the company and workers consider themselves employees of the Minister Harney.
"The Labour Party will do everything it can, both inside and outside the Dáil, to impress upon the Tánaiste that she has a moral responsibility to her own workers - who are State workers in a State enterprise - to ensure that their entitlements are discharged in accordance to best practice," Mr Rabbitte said.
"I have never heard of situation in a State industry where there is now the kind of dispute that there is about pension entitlements," he added.
Speaking on the fringes of the gathering Labour deputy leader Ms Liz McManus told ireland.comthat the Arklow plant, which is in her constituency, was still a viable concern.
This is a political decision taken by Bertie Ahern and Mary Harney because they wanted rid of IFI ... We know that Arklow plant had a viable future," Ms McManus said.
She said the Government were not interested in discussing a rescue plan put together by management and workers. She said that last year the Arklow turned a profit and while there was a fall-off in revenues this year, the nature of the business was cyclical. "Everybody in Arklow is convinced the plant has a future and we're going to keep fighting for it," she said.
While workers at today's protest seemed resigned to the loss of jobs in Belfast staff from Cork maintained their plant was also viable.
One worker said: "They've been trying to get rid of us for years. A plan for the development of the harbour [where the plant is located] doesn't even show IFI on it ... They [IFI's owners] saw an opportunity and they went for it with no consideration of the effect on other businesses."