Unions at Bord na Móna have warned management they will consult the company's entire workforce on staging industrial action in all divisions unless a closure date announced for the Littleton Peat Briquette Factory in Thurles, Co Tipperary next March is dropped.
Twenty-two shop stewards representing the workforce met with seven members of management in Tullamore, Co Offaly this afternoon.
Speaking afterwards, union representatives said they had made it clear no discussions on job losses or redeployment of staff anywhere on the bogs would be allowed unless the proposed closure date of March 2018 for Littleton is dropped immediately by the company.
John O'Regan, secretary of the Bord na Móna Group of Unions, said workers from every corner of the company had resolved today to support their colleagues in Littleton because there had been no consultation with them before last Thursday's announcement of a closure.
He said the unions would wait for management to respond and then consider the next option, which could be an all-out strike ballot if the workforce so decides.
However, Bord na Móna has ruled out any move to reverse the decision to close the Littleton factory.
In a statement this afternoon the company said the decision had been made by its board last Thursday and will now move on with the process of implementing that decision, which will include a process of consultation with all workers affected.
