After weeks of speculation, Dell confirms that 1,900 jobs are to go at its plant in Limerick.
The technology company Dell is transferring all its manufacturing to Poland where costs are lower.
One thousand workers involved in engineering, product development and global customer care workers being kept on. The job losses will take place between April 2009 and January 2010. The company says that the decision is part of a comprehensive global reorganisation with the aim of reducing costs and improving productivity.
Commenting on the decision, Vice President of Operations Seán Corkery said,
We have to remain cost competitive.
Workers at the plant expressed their devastation at the job losses after 18 years of productivity at Limerick. Redundancies will include a severance package of six weeks pay for every year of employment, capped at 52 weeks. Shift allowances are not taken into account in the severance settlement.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 8 January 2009. The reporter is Cathy Halloran.
