Glass container makers Ardagh today announced that it is closing its Dublin manufacturing facility, with the loss of 375 jobs. It is expected that the closure of the Ringsend plant will be completed by next June.
The decision was made following the failure to secure required improvements in work practices at Ringsend. These improvements, together with improved pricing, were necessary to guarantee the future of the facility, the company said.
Ardagh Chief Executive Eddie Kilty said the Ringsend operation had become increasingly uncompetitive.
'Protracted negotiations have failed to secure improvements in work practices and the board has now made the only decision it could for the good of the group as a whole,' he said.
Unions counter that they have made every effort to cooperate with management and are dismayed by today's announcement.
SIPTU's Gerry Lynch, representing 240 workers, said some of the company's problems had nothing to do with the workers and were the management's responsibility.
An Ardagh spokesman said discussions on improvements in work practices had been going on for the past 12-18 months, but no agreement was reached. He said this, combined with the poor economic backdrop, led to the decision to close.
Ardagh said its UK operations, Rockware Glass, was continuing to trade profitably and in line with expectations.
In a separate announcement today, Ardagh said it had agreed to purchase an Italian glass manufacturer, Consumers Glass, in Teramo for over €3 million.
