OVER 420 employees at troubled Westmeath factory Iralco are anxiously playing the waiting game this week to see what, if any, future remains for them, as negotiations between their unions and employers continue.
Union officials met management yesterday morning in a last-ditch effort to try and save some jobs at Collinstown, in spite of press statements from the directors at Iralco stating it was "closing its operations".
Speaking after the meeting, regional industrial organiser for the ATGWU-Unite, Peter Kenny, said following "strong and serious discussions", both parties had adjourned the meeting to reconvene this morning. "Staff are very depressed and very down," he said as he left Iralco. "What other way would they be? This is a huge hit for them and their families, for the whole community, for the whole area. It is not a good day for people in Westmeath.
"The company is to take this opportunity to go and talk to its customers. We are trying to establish how many people we can get kept here in a permanent way as long as we can, and we are going to continue to do that. There are orders on the books there, but at the moment it's very unclear."
On Monday evening, a delegation of local politicians and Westmeath county manager Daniel McLoughlin were informed by liquidator John McStay that he would try to seek an investor to take over the company "as an ongoing concern", but genuine fears remain that if this "white knight" cannot be secured promptly, the effects will be devastating to the local community.
"We would be hopeful that something positive can come from the meeting [ today] and, going forward, we would hope that we can secure the employment of as many people here as we possibly can," union shop steward Andrew Elder stated.
Iralco has been the biggest employer in the north Westmeath area for the past 44 years and the closure of the company would immediately remove over €8 million from the local economy in wages alone.
Subdued, confused employees chatted among themselves in the village square after being sent home from work, wondering if this was the end for the automotive parts manufacturer that had employed generations of families in the area since it first opened its doors 44 years ago at the Barbaville Estate, just outside Collinstown.
Shop steward Martin Fitzsimons has many family members working at Iralco. "I'm there 26 years. I have three sisters working there too and two nieces. My wife worked at the company up to 2005, but is on leave at the moment," he stated.