Minister for Enterprise & Employment Richard Bruton has been asked to intervene on behalf of anxious workers at the Oatfield sweets factory in Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
15 workers at the plant met the Mayor of Letterkenny, Cllr Gerry McMonagle, yesterday amid speculation that the owners of Oatfield are in discussions with a multi-million euro food store chain to sell the site.
The Mayor said there was a ''growing frustration and anger'' amongst the workforce with their employers’ refusal to clarify for the workforce where the future of the plant lay.
Zed Candy and Donegal Creameries are joint owners of the site.
Workers told the Mayor of the growing number of rumours that they were hearing about the future of the plant.
They said despite repeated requests to both companies, they have as yet refused to answer the workers queries.
"There is a sad reluctance amongst the workforce that they are to lose their jobs,'' Cllr McMonagle said.
''Some of those at the meeting have been working at Oatfields for 40 years and are now very angry at how their loyalty is being repaid.''
He said the employees' main concern was that they get their redundancy pension payments.
Cllr McMonagle said he had asked for Minister Bruton to intervene on behalf of the workers through a party colleague.
Oatfield sweets have been manufactured in Letterkenny for more than 80 years.
Zed Candy bought the Oatfield brand from McKinney and Co.
