De Beers in Shannon to lay off 370 jobs

Run_to_da_hills · 22-07-2009 10:56AM #1

Not good news at all, know a few working there.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0722/elementsix.html

Keano · 22-07-2009 11:18AM

It is not good news.

I worked for another large company that had been in Shannon for 30 years and it too closed in the last year.

The industrial estate in Shannon is becoming a ghost town. Sad times.

buck65 · 22-07-2009 11:49AM

Where does it all end?

Keano · 22-07-2009 11:59AM

buck65 wrote: »

Where does it all end?

I too would love to know.

Probably when the country is on its knee's.

drunken_munky52 · 22-07-2009 12:08PM

Shocking. Having a job in De Beers used to be the creme de la creme, considered the Intel or Google of its time. This is truly siesmic for such an icon of the midwest.

force eleven · 22-07-2009 12:14PM

buck65 wrote: »

Where does it all end?

It doesn't. Better emigrate. With NAMA we'll be financially crippled for the next 20 years, no spending, no incentives. We're a small country and cannot simply lift ourselves out of this hole in a short space of time.

IMF will be here soon, that may be a good thing.:mad:

Clareman · 22-07-2009 12:21PM

Shannon is in trouble there's no doubt about it, 2 of the biggest sites in the industrial estate are now gone, used to be all the hurlers and footballers worked there, it used to be the place to work, sad times

kfish2oo2 · 22-07-2009 01:24PM

The remaining part of Element 6 (the R&D section) will remain in operation for maybe 18 months or so, at which point it will most likely shift that to another country. Element 6 has always given its workers excellent wages and severances packages, but now that they can't afford to do so anymore they're being attacked rather aggressively by the unions, despite the fact that their lower packages are actually higher than that which is required by law. Its sad to see the unions around Ireland demanding more money in the one time that everyone, at every level, has to buckle down and take some cuts.

Keano · 22-07-2009 01:46PM

kfish2oo2 wrote: »

The remaining part of Element 6 (the R&D section) will remain in operation for maybe 18 months or so, at which point it will most likely shift that to another country. Element 6 has always given its workers excellent wages and severances packages, but now that they can't afford to do so anymore they're being attacked rather aggressively by the unions, despite the fact that their lower packages are actually higher than that which is required by law. Its sad to see the unions around Ireland demanding more money in the one time that everyone, at every level, has to buckle down and take some cuts.

The can afford it. They simply do not want to pay it.

Run_to_da_hills · 22-07-2009 03:22PM

Chatting to my mate on the floor this morning, Production has now come to a complete stand since the news. lads walking around aimlessly, foremen not giving a toss anymore, mate told not to go near a machine.

I wouldn't blame them as management is only offering them a pittence for a redundancy package. Just one week plus statutory. It was 6 weeks on the contract. The Unions said they would be lucky if they got 3 weeks. Not good and they expect a rocky road for the remainder of their six months employment.

kfish2oo2 · 22-07-2009 04:34PM

Keano A Legend wrote: »

The can afford it. They simply do not want to pay it.

On what information are you basing this? They made a €9 million loss last year. How the hell are they supposed to afford huge payoffs when they're currently running at a loss? People hear the word "diamond" and assume they make those pretty little rings worth a couple of grand, but thats a total misconception. Element 6 makes industrial diamonds. They go on concrete saws, drill bits... 50 odd grams of these things are worth a few cents, literally. Element 6 is almost solely dependent on the oil drilling industry, and in case you hadn't noticed, the worlds gone to ****. No one can afford to drill for new oil anymore, renewable energy is cutting into the oil industry (not that that isn't a good thing) and Chinese industrial diamond manufacturers are tearing into the market like wildfire. Competitiveness is essential in this industry, and they simply can't afford to operate in Ireland anymore, which has some of the highest wages (and costs of living) on the planet.

The people of Ireland need to wake the **** up. We've had things handed to us on a silver platter. We've had 15 years or extremely aggressive growth and expansion, our wages and quality of living has skyrocketed, the EU's been throwing money at us... We've had a dream run, but like every other country in the world things have gone to crap. We need to buckle up, accept the fact that hardly anyone is actually making a profit anymore and fix the broken aspects of our business models. Until we can do this, companies like Element 6, which for years have remained staples in Irish life, are going to disappear.

Keano · 22-07-2009 04:48PM

On common sense.

They may have made a loss this year but what about the profits for the last 30 years? To give someone who has given 20+ years service 20 weeks pay for their service is just deplorable.

kfish2oo2 · 22-07-2009 04:57PM

Keano A Legend wrote: »

On common sense.

They may have made a loss this year but what about the profits for the last 30 years? To give someone who has given 20+ years service 20 weeks pay for their service is just deplorable.

You really have no concept of how a business works do you? Profits are used to pay employees and shareholders, and then reinvested into the company. It doesn't go into some magical bank account where they can grab it whenever needed. I agree with you 100%, it is deplorable to pay someone with 20 years service a package of only 20 weeks, but that is, in fact, more than the government set minimum. The issue isn't in Element Six, but in the governments rules.

Keano · 22-07-2009 05:03PM

To answer your first question yes I do. I have no doubt the decision was made last year so would have ben included into this years budget so they have the cash.

Yes it is a government issue, but for a large multinational to offer 1 week is worse again. Talk about kicking people when they are down...

loctite · 22-07-2009 05:18PM

Lads bickering over the severence package offered is going to get nobody anywhere. IMO it is that attitude that "they can afford it" which has fueled unions to seek higher wages and contribute to the increase in costs for employers.

The fact is, Ireland is uncompetetive, and until such a time as we become more productive and cost effective, this is going to become the norm. This is going to have a huge impact in the mid west affecting more than just the persons who have been laid off and their families.

I am genuinely scared for the future of the mid west.

kfish2oo2 · 22-07-2009 11:05PM

Keano A Legend wrote: »

To answer your first question yes I do. I have no doubt the decision was made last year so would have ben included into this years budget so they have the cash.

Yes it is a government issue, but for a large multinational to offer 1 week is worse again. Talk about kicking people when they are down...

It most definitely was not. Even people in upper management are reeling from this move. In all likelihood it was decided only a few weeks ago, at the annual exec meeting in Luxembourg.

Also, the severance deal is most likely the brain child of one of the new execs. Nasty, selfish and bigoted people from all accounts.

Max001 · 23-07-2009 10:10PM

SIPTU, as the shopfloor lead union on site and specifically the SIPTU Shannon Industrial Branch, let their members down extremely badly in the case of Element Six.

In the past and for many years its been possible for unions and company to conduct negotiations professionally and successfully, which until recently has kept the plant competitive.

The very, very sad fact is, that this weeks outcome need not have happened and the failure of SIPTU branch officials to engage constructively has cost hundreds of high calibre people their jobs.

Its true that the country has become less competitive in recent years as a place for inward investors, but Element Six as a company had a huge commercial and emotional commitment to the Shannon site.

I am a fair minded and reasonably objective person in most respects, however in this case I have no doubts, most if not all of the fault in this case, lies with the SIPTU Shannon Industrial Branch and there's a particular person there who should hang her head in shame, for ever more.

My heart goes out to all the hard working and extremely decent people in Element Six who have lost their jobs recently and who will lose their jobs between now and Christmas.

This tradegy need not have happened!

Clareman · 23-07-2009 10:39PM

Here comes a mini rant of mine, I do apologize in advance.

Ireland will never be able to compete in manufacturing again, the fact of the matter is that labor costs are just way way way too high. Most companies that are closing have been in place for a long time, say someone started 20 years ago on 10k, give them an extra 500 a year as well as 5% increase, that means that their salary would be almost 44k now, no one can pay that for a base manufacturing job.

The argument that companies could afford in the past is a terrible argument, companies don't keep much money around to pay off people, companies are there to make money, same as people are there to get a wage, not for the benefit of the company. People milked the company for long enough, I for 1 have 2 blue iron boxes from De Beers in my shed for storing things in.

We can blame a lot of things, we can blame multi nationals, we can blame the government, we can blame a lot of things, but in essence, it's peoples inheritant greed that caused every problem we are in, unfortunetly there's no light at the end of the tunnel, Element 6 and the GPA sites being empty in Shannon will turn the place into a ghost town

Run_to_da_hills · 24-07-2009 01:23AM

Clareman wrote: »

Here comes a mini rant of mine, I do apologize in advance.

Ireland will never be able to compete in manufacturing again, the fact of the matter is that labor costs are just way way way too high. Most companies that are closing have been in place for a long time, say someone started 20 years ago on 10k, give them an extra 500 a year as well as 5% increase, that means that their salary would be almost 44k now, no one can pay that for a base manufacturing job.

The argument that companies could afford in the past is a terrible argument, companies don't keep much money around to pay off people, companies are there to make money, same as people are there to get a wage, not for the benefit of the company. People milked the company for long enough, I for 1 have 2 blue iron boxes from De Beers in my shed for storing things in.

We can blame a lot of things, we can blame multi nationals, we can blame the government, we can blame a lot of things, but in essence, it's peoples inheritant greed that caused every problem we are in, unfortunetly there's no light at the end of the tunnel, Element 6 and the GPA sites being empty in Shannon will turn the place into a ghost town

I was just chatting to a guy on line from Lodz Poland. He turned down work at the assembly line in the new Dell factory there. Dell are offering €400 to €500 a month FFS, thats half of what we get on the scratch and he says they have no probs filling those vacancies.

As O'Leary predicted, "there will be tumbleweed on the runways at Shannon by next Spring", it looks now as if this will spread across the road to the industrial.estate. :eek:

irishturkey · 31-07-2009 06:15PM

So here's the latest from the inside...

This is where the new HR manager has really has come into his own. If we were getting treated fairly, I'd nearly admire him. After the announcement on Wednesday of last week, a 5 man team went to London to plead Shannon's case. CEO Cyrus Jilla told them to come back with a sustainability plan for the next 5 years minimum. So on Wednesday of this week, the workers were briefed on where we now stand. The plan is being put together as we speak and the same team will return to London next week to hand in their plan. They've told us they won't be returning to Ireland without a definitive answer on Shannon's future, no matter how long it takes. Now just think about all this... last week Shannon had to go. A week later it may not have to happen.

The head of distribution was one of the 80 people being kept on. This despite the fact that the distribution dept was part of the 370 to go. The production planner was being kept on, despite production in Shannon coming to a finish by year end. Anyone smell a fish? The new Operations Manager who was supposedly being let go, claimed to know nothing of the announcement. When briefing us during the week on the trip to London, he said he knew on the Tuesday evening that production and distribution were gone.

So all of a sudden, they're very confident of going to London next week and coming back with a number of jobs, a number in triple digits.

My theory? Shannon was never in doubt. They've used scare tactics to brilliant effect. They've left us backed up against a wall. They'll come back with 150-200 jobs next week but "due to financial constraints, workers will have to have their terms and conditions reviewed". I hope I'm wrong but I don't see it. If you don't like the term and conditions you'll be offered a package to go. I do believe they'll increase it from 0.68 of a week per year. Possibly to 2 or 3 weeks, maybe even 4 if we're lucky. But here's the beauty of their plan. They know how upset people are by all of this. There's people that just want out now. But if they go they'll have to take a hit, if they stay, again, they'll have to take a hit in wages. What option do you have? You could protest to the media... with the result that the company say, "we can't afford any more negative publicity, so its back to square one, we're off to China", or "we offered them jobs, we did all we could, they're being ungrateful". You see the result? The workers who are being screwed are left looking like ungrateful bastards while the management come out smelling of roses.

They've been in contact with Tanaste Mary Coughlan and she's promised her full support for their plan. She's promised the full backing of the IDA and all agencies under her control.

I was reading the Star yesterday and in the editorial it said the management in Shannon are to be commended for their perseverence and maybe the rest of the country could learn from them. Bull****!!

So when its announced towards the end of this week that the mangement have saved x amount of jobs, and they're getting accolades from the government for working so hard, just remember all I've written here. This plan was a preconcieved to cut costs, cut wages and make the people who built that company look like mercenaries.

Whatever kind of job they offer me, I won't be taking it. I have some pride. Some dignity. I won't be selling out. I realise I'll come across as a fool, a stubborn idiot who's holding out for more than I'm worth, thats just me. I know there's more people ready to walk once they're offered a package that reflects the effort they've put in over the years. Element 6 have treated us with total and utter contempt. We won't be believed by the media, its easier to just pick a good guy/bad guy and run with that story. My manager was asked by his boss to try and drive us on a bit and get some work done. His response..."Just give me my fcuking money and let me go".

Indicative of the attitude. I won't be surprised if they can't fill all the jobs they come back with. Let the abuse begin... I know I'm a mercenary,a greedy so and so

Max001 · 31-07-2009 07:04PM

I think this is whats called an 'Irish solution'

Much heat from both sides and not so much
light.....then when all seems lost, a solution
is found that enables all parties to claim some
portion of victory/save face. Whats that saying
about defeat being an orphan and victory having
many fathers ?

If people who have to lose their jobs or choose
to go, get better terms, good for them. If the
people who remain retain their jobs, even though
they lose something in their terms and conditions,
thats their choice.

So far as I know, the continued viability of the
pension fund, depends on the viability of the
Shannon operation, so its continuing helps
pensioners and future pensioners.

The company and specifically the site management
have taken dogs abuse from SIPTU shop stewards
and in particular from the branch official for years
now and I for one am not surprised the company's
patience ran out.

I'd still contend that all the unnecessary anguish of
the past few weeks could have been avoided by a less
confrontational approach by SIPTU and SIPTU was
told years ago that the Shannon site faced major
competitiveness issues soon, but these warnings
were ignored.

Nothing that you've said is wrong IrishTurkey and I believe
most of what I've said is also pretty accurate. We're
looking at this thing from slightly different perspectives
is all

loctite · 01-08-2009 11:27AM

irishturkey wrote: »

I won't be surprised if they can't fill all the jobs they come back with.

Somehow I doubt it... its an employer's market now..

irishturkey · 07-08-2009 04:58PM

irishturkey wrote: »

This is where the new HR manager has really has come into his own. If we were getting treated fairly, I'd nearly admire him. After the announcement on Wednesday of last week, a 5 man team went to London to plead Shannon's case. CEO Cyrus Jilla told them to come back with a sustainability plan for the next 5 years minimum. So on Wednesday of this week, the workers were briefed on where we now stand. The plan is being put together as we speak and the same team will return to London next week to hand in their plan. They've told us they won't be returning to Ireland without a definitive answer on Shannon's future, no matter how long it takes. Now just think about all this... last week Shannon had to go. A week later it may not have to happen.

The head of distribution was one of the 80 people being kept on. This despite the fact that the distribution dept was part of the 370 to go. The production planner was being kept on, despite production in Shannon coming to a finish by year end. Anyone smell a fish? The new Operations Manager who was supposedly being let go, claimed to know nothing of the announcement. When briefing us during the week on the trip to London, he said he knew on the Tuesday evening that production and distribution were gone.

So all of a sudden, they're very confident of going to London next week and coming back with a number of jobs, a number in triple digits.

My theory? Shannon was never in doubt. They've used scare tactics to brilliant effect. They've left us backed up against a wall. They'll come back with 150-200 jobs next week but "due to financial constraints, workers will have to have their terms and conditions reviewed". I hope I'm wrong but I don't see it. If you don't like the term and conditions you'll be offered a package to go. I do believe they'll increase it from 0.68 of a week per year. Possibly to 2 or 3 weeks, maybe even 4 if we're lucky. But here's the beauty of their plan. They know how upset people are by all of this. There's people that just want out now. But if they go they'll have to take a hit, if they stay, again, they'll have to take a hit in wages. What option do you have? You could protest to the media... with the result that the company say, "we can't afford any more negative publicity, so its back to square one, we're off to China", or "we offered them jobs, we did all we could, they're being ungrateful". You see the result? The workers who are being screwed are left looking like ungrateful bastards while the management come out smelling of roses.

They've been in contact with Tanaste Mary Coughlan and she's promised her full support for their plan. She's promised the full backing of the IDA and all agencies under her control.

I was reading the Star yesterday and in the editorial it said the management in Shannon are to be commended for their perseverence and maybe the rest of the country could learn from them. Bull****!!

So when its announced towards the end of this week that the mangement have saved x amount of jobs, and they're getting accolades from the government for working so hard, just remember all I've written here. This plan was a preconcieved to cut costs, cut wages and make the people who built that company look like mercenaries.

Whatever kind of job they offer me, I won't be taking it. I have some pride. Some dignity. I won't be selling out. I realise I'll come across as a fool, a stubborn idiot who's holding out for more than I'm worth, thats just me. I know there's more people ready to walk once they're offered a package that reflects the effort they've put in over the years. Element 6 have treated us with total and utter contempt. We won't be believed by the media, its easier to just pick a good guy/bad guy and run with that story. My manager was asked by his boss to try and drive us on a bit and get some work done. His response..."Just give me my fcuking money and let me go".

I was wrong about one thing. They're going to make us re-apply for our own jobs. Is that not laughable? Some arse lickers are going to be straight to the head of the queue despite only being in the door because when their supervisor says "time to bend over", sure enough they do as they're told despite the consequences. Whereas anybody who has the cojones, or stupidity, you decide, to stand up for themselves is going to be shown the door.

Sickening. Utterly sickening. And watch as the HR manager rides away into the sunset with his wallet fattened, while we get left to choose between being ridden by the company or ridden by the government.

Gruffalo · 07-08-2009 06:16PM

irishturkey wrote: »

I was wrong about one thing. They're going to make us re-apply for our own jobs. Is that not laughable? Some arse lickers are going to be straight to the head of the queue despite only being in the door because when their supervisor says "time to bend over", sure enough they do as they're told despite the consequences. Whereas anybody who has the cojones, or stupidity, you decide, to stand up for themselves is going to be shown the door.

Sickening. Utterly sickening. And watch as the HR manager rides away into the sunset with his wallet fattened, while we get left to choose between being ridden by the company or ridden by the government.

Stand your ground mate. Don't let them walk all over ya.

oh well · 08-08-2009 02:32PM

Element 6 or any other company is under absolutely no obligation to provide anything other than the statutory redundancy and while maybe they can or cannot afford it, it doesn't matter a dam. Just because they've been here for many years, got loads in grants, or whatever you happen to mention, they don't "owe" anyone anything - except their shareholders. Certainly when big multinationals close plants in rest of the world, there is nothing like the redundancy packages that Ireland seems to expect. If the workers can negotiate anything better for themselves, well fair play but we badly need to get away from the attitude that we are entitled to it. Our costs are astromonical, cheaper labour and transport overseas is going to win out for companies who only wish to answer to their large shareholders.

My job is down to 2 half days a week - if I get redundancy I'll only get the absolutely statutory minimum but theren't no point in me complaining or looking for more. I do a job, I get paid for that job - anything over and above that is a bonus which is at the absolute descretion of the employer. Even if my employer makes a massive profit and gets to live the high life thats still his/her perogatitive. Ya, sure I'd love him/her to share it with me, but guess what - thats life.

by the way - multinationals often make people apply for their own jobs and to justify their jobs - review time every year is basically that.

Gruffalo · 08-08-2009 07:50PM

oh well wrote: »

Element 6 or any other company is under absolutely no obligation to provide anything other than the statutory redundancy and while maybe they can or cannot afford it, it doesn't matter a dam. Just because they've been here for many years, got loads in grants, or whatever you happen to mention, they don't "owe" anyone anything - except their shareholders. Certainly when big multinationals close plants in rest of the world, there is nothing like the redundancy packages that Ireland seems to expect. If the workers can negotiate anything better for themselves, well fair play but we badly need to get away from the attitude that we are entitled to it. Our costs are astromonical, cheaper labour and transport overseas is going to win out for companies who only wish to answer to their large shareholders.

My job is down to 2 half days a week - if I get redundancy I'll only get the absolutely statutory minimum but theren't no point in me complaining or looking for more. I do a job, I get paid for that job - anything over and above that is a bonus which is at the absolute descretion of the employer. Even if my employer makes a massive profit and gets to live the high life thats still his/her perogatitive. Ya, sure I'd love him/her to share it with me, but guess what - thats life.

by the way - multinationals often make people apply for their own jobs and to justify their jobs - review time every year is basically that.

I understand your point about obligations but lest we forget, if it was not for workers standing up and fighting for fair treatment, we not even have those obligations. Workers always have the right to stand up and fight for a better deal and that is something I will always support.

oh well · 08-08-2009 09:21PM

absolutely right Gruffalo - of course everyone can stand up and fight but at a certain point sometimes the worker, or the Union in alot of cases, has to stand down and protect some jobs instead of losing all jobs. Too many times we've seen it happen in Ireland that instead of accepting a package/deal, workers have voted themselves out of jobs.

Gruffalo · 08-08-2009 09:29PM

oh well wrote: »

absolutely right Gruffalo - of course everyone can stand up and fight but at a certain point sometimes the worker, or the Union in alot of cases, has to stand down and protect some jobs instead of losing all jobs. Too many times we've seen it happen in Ireland that instead of accepting a package/deal, workers have voted themselves out of jobs.

Compromise is certainly essential during these negotiation processes but I dont think it is necessary to jump in and accept everything straight away. That's just my view.

irishturkey · 08-08-2009 10:18PM

oh well wrote: »

Element 6 or any other company is under absolutely no obligation to provide anything other than the statutory redundancy and while maybe they can or cannot afford it, it doesn't matter a dam. Just because they've been here for many years, got loads in grants, or whatever you happen to mention, they don't "owe" anyone anything - except their shareholders. Certainly when big multinationals close plants in rest of the world, there is nothing like the redundancy packages that Ireland seems to expect. If the workers can negotiate anything better for themselves, well fair play but we badly need to get away from the attitude that we are entitled to it. Our costs are astromonical, cheaper labour and transport overseas is going to win out for companies who only wish to answer to their large shareholders.

My job is down to 2 half days a week - if I get redundancy I'll only get the absolutely statutory minimum but theren't no point in me complaining or looking for more. I do a job, I get paid for that job - anything over and above that is a bonus which is at the absolute descretion of the employer. Even if my employer makes a massive profit and gets to live the high life thats still his/her perogatitive. Ya, sure I'd love him/her to share it with me, but guess what - thats life.

by the way - multinationals often make people apply for their own jobs and to justify their jobs - review time every year is basically that.

Is it common practice to take a pay cut, give up health insurance contributions, take a pay cut, work harder as part of these reviews? Rarely I'd imagine.. except when theres a need to scare people into taking miserly redundancy packages. Go on... lambast me for being greedy and unrealistic. Call me a "celtic cub". I would have always been of the same mind. But seeing how these companies operate as I'm seeing now and you'll realise that the media portrayal isn't always as accurate as it should be. They have half the information needed. They disregard what suits them. I've posted this example here before but I'll do it again... Last January two men collected on their redundancy. Between the two of them they took €1 million out of Element Six. So they decide they want another 370 gone and offer €6.5 million between them. In a superb piece of spin doctoring they "save" 163 jobs, scrounge a couple of million from Mary Coughlan and tell her its for training and upskilling and the redundancy package is increased. But the previous cap of 2.5 years salary is reduced to 1 years salary. Somehow the media forgot to mention that bit. One supervisor with 33 years service is going to lose out on about €80,000 because of this cap. His pension fund is also going to be decimated to a point where previously he would have earned a good living for a retiree, now he's going to be on the scrounge like the rest of us.

So please, not just you Oh Well, but everybody, get the facts, find out whats actually happening inside before making comments that are ridiculously insulting and wide of the mark. 6 weeks redundancy plus 2 weeks statutory has been common practice in Element Six/De Beers for years, they aren't all of a sudden on their knees and begging for contributions in the town centre.:mad:

No. 11 · 10-08-2009 02:01AM

Gruffalo wrote: »

Compromise is certainly essential during these negotiation processes but I dont think it is necessary to jump in and accept everything straight away. That's just my view.

And what would such a compromise entail? Some combination of a cut in wages, the slashing of conditions, or a stingy redundancy in a barren jobs market no doubt.

But why should the workers compromise when they have De Beers, to put it crudely, by the short and curlies? E6 don't appear to be able to move production overseas, they need the Shannon workers and their expertise. Given the huge value of the products, materials and machinery inside the plant, the workers could bring De Beers to their knees if they were to, say, occupy the plant.

Now, while the company have been able to swing much of the media behind them by exploiting their ignorance and by appearing to act in good faith by coming back with this "offer", the reality is it has no bearing on the real balance of strength. The workers can quite easily regain the initiative if they act decisively.

By offering workers the prospect of some work they're blatantly engaged in a strategy of divide and rule. While it's understandable why some would be inclined to step forward and accept these new reduced conditions, it should be emphasised that this would just be the beginning. That if they were to get away with this the workers who remained would be in a severely weakened position and liable to be made to accept further cuts in the very near future, but that if workers make a stand the company will think twice before making another attempt on their conditions.

The broader consequences of this dispute are also evidenced by the recent statement by the President of the Limerick Chamber of Commerce in response to the E6 jobs slaughter where he called for a 20% pay cut for all wages across the board. In order to protect their profit margins they are willing to force the rest of us to work for less at a time when the price of essentials, such as electricity and fuel, continue to rise.

They want us to work for poverty wages so as to protect their cushions. We shouldn't accept this and we certainly shouldn't compromise with this mentality. The more pay is slashed, the less money people have to spend. Such measures may protect their profits for a time but it will only serve to further deepen the downwards spiral of the general economy.

This is a profitable company - workers should demand that De Beers takes the hit to its profit margin in order to repay its workforce for all the years of service and billions they generated for them. The most important thing for workers to do now is to regain the initiative by going on the offensive. E6 have bared their teeth already and shown how low they're willing to stoop. Workers should have absolutely no qualms about taking the fight to them.

mikemac · 10-08-2009 02:10AM

No. 11 wrote: »

They want us to work for poverty wages so as to protect their cushions.

Wouldn't you say that's going a bit too far.
Your post mentioned a 20% cut. Harsh but it isn't poverty wages

De Beers in Shannon to lay off 370 jobs

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