Staff representatives of the nine Great Southern Hotels are meeting senior officials of their union in Dublin today to decide on a course of action over the closure and proposed sale of the Torc Great Southern Hotel in Killarney.
The meeting with SIPTU officials in Liberty Hall will discuss what the union believes is the "impending privatisation" of the group as a whole. The union intends to prevent the closure of the Torc, and the loss of up to 60 jobs, a spokesman said.
"We believe ourselves that they will start with the Torc, the most vulnerable. It is the start of the break-up. We think there are plans to sell off a second hotel," said Mr Donal Tobin, branch secretary with SIPTU in Kerry.
There had been no consultation with unions before Mr Eamonn McKeon, chief executive of the Great Southern Hotel Group, personally informed staff in Killarney of the closure over a week ago, he said.
Senator Paul Coghlan of Fine Gael has called on the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism to "clarify matters" regarding the Torc Great Southern.
"Mr O'Donoghue needs to clarify what is in store for staff at the Torc and what he means by assurances that many will retain employment with the hotel group. They have not been given any such assurances from Great Southern management," Senator Coghlan said.