The Rennicks Plastics plant in Kilbride in Co Meath is to close at the end of October with the loss of 88 jobs. A spokesperson for the company, which manufactures plastic mouldings, said that the closure was due to the erosion of its customer base due to increasing competition from lower cost economies.
The spokesperson stressed that another company, Rennicks Signage, was not affected, and would continue to operate as normal.
SIPTU has condemned the closure, describing the announcement as a devastating blow not only to the 88 workers affected, but also for the community which had already suffered its fair share of unemployment in recent times.
Branch Secretary Gerry Lynch called on the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, the IDA and other state agencies to lobby for a replacement industry between now and October.
He also warned that the union intended to ballot members for industrial action in pursuit of improved redundancy terms over and above those initially offered by management.
