5ú Feabhra 2002

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Nestle has responsibility towards workers

132 Jobs at Risk

Sinn Fein Councillor Sean Crowe has said that the news that Nestle Ireland is to sell off some of its best known brands and spilt its Irish workforce in two has generated huge concern that jobs are about to be lost at the company's Tallaght operations.

Mr. Crowe, a member of South Dublin County Council, said:

``While Nestle have every right to run a profitable business they cannot ignore the responsibility they have for their workers. The 132 workers who are involved in the production of the food brands being sold by Nestle are rightly concerned.  They fear that future buyers of the Chef Sauces, Fruitfield Jams, Silvermints and other brands will not want to take the Tallaght workers into their operations.

``According to business reports, it is highly unlikely that any single company will be interested in these brands, so workers could easily be made redundant. Nestle must come clean and make clear what sort of job security these 132 workers have.  If it is likely that they may lose their jobs then Nestle must begin negotiation on an adequate redundancy package.

``Nestle made record profits of over 1.25 billion EURO in the first half of last year. They can afford to fulfil their responsibilities to their Irish workers. The first step is being truly honest about how safe their jobs will be after the brands are put up for sale.''

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