QUINN GROUP EMPLOYEES IMPLORE FOR INTERVENTION TO PREVENT MASSIVE JOB LOSSES

A Chara,

 

 

More than 220 Quinn Group employees have contacted Concerned Irish Citizens in the last few weeks to ask for help in seeking Government intervention to save their jobs. The employees, who ask to remain anonymous because of the intimidation that they fear they would be subjected to, if their identities became known, expressed grave concern for the future of themselves, their families and the local communities.

 

The outsourcing of the haulage and garage part of the Quinn Group is of major concern to the lorry drivers, the garge staff and also their suppliers and they are disgusted that this is even being considered given the repeated promises to protect local jobs.  Drivers have pointed out that they will be competing with workers from abroad who work for half the money being paid currently to Quinn Group drivers and they also believe that they will be forced to overnight at their destination and return the next day with another load. They have expressed deep concern at the lack of information coming from Management at what they consider to be the stripping of company assets and the probable change in their terms and conditions of employment.

 

Workers also detailed other matters that they believe calls into question the strategy of the current Management.:

 

a  The very expensive rebranding of the Company name, which was announced on the very day that tens of thousands of pounds worth of  Quinn branded diaries, calendars, and other promotional material was delivered,

 

b  Lack of proper maintenance of plant and machinery, a shortage of raw materials, and an unprecedented high spoilage rate and products being returned,

 

c  A competitor being  inappropriately provided with commercially sensitive information when the Lagan deal was on the cards,

 

d  A complete breakdown in communication between Management and staff. Workers are incensed that the  annual accounts confirmed that the CEO is being paid one million and eighty thouand euros from a company which is in freefall  (Sean Quinn's salary was 75 thousand euros),and staff do not know if they will have a job next week, are under immense presssure and there are large numbers off sick. It has also been confirmed that many new employees only last a few days and the working atmosphere is atrocious,

 

e  It is gernerally felt that the excuse of the recession for the failure of the Quinn Group under the current regime, does not stack up as competitors are thriving in terms of turnover and profit.

 

c  Many people in the community have complained about the "white dust" that is enveloping the area. The collapse of the roof of the clinker shed was reported to be fixed a few days after the incident but it has been confirmed that three months later, it is still collapsed and many feel that it poses a serious health and safety risk. There is also deep concern in the community about infra red lights eminating from Headquarters.

 

Many of the worried workers who contacted Concerned Irish Citizens pointed out that a local Fine Gael County Councillor, John McCartin, called for talks with the Quinn family several months ago. They are deeply disappointed that this recommendation appears to have fallen on deaf ears and they are adamant that the only person who can prevent the complete demise of the Quinn Group is Sean Quinn and his team. 

 

Quinn Group staff, many of whom have given decades of service to the company, are aggrieved that they are being completely neglected and ignored and  they believe that this would not be allowed to take place if the border area was not the second worst  in the country in terms of unemployment. They see no reason why Sean Quinn and his team being reinstated in order to save thousands of jobs, should interfere with current and impending legal actions. The jobs will all be gone before the court actions are completed. They were quick to point out that there is a precadent for bringing Sean Quinn back to run the company as NAMA was successful in using this strategy and there was no comparison in the number of jobs at stake.

 

All workers made the point that it was sheer lunacy to have Sean Quinn at home twiddling his thumbs when certain disaster looms for the very survival of our counties. and that common sense must prevail before it is too late.

 

 

Is Mise,

 

 

Patricia Gilheany,

Secretary,

Concerned Irish Citizens,

Ballinamore,

Co.Leitrim.

Tel 0871497787