IS IT PERMANENT SHUT-DOWN OR SALE?

Workers in Quinn Cement are wondering what the plans are for their futures. The cement factory has just been started again after a long break but when we look at the situations in the quarries we wonder what is going on. 
According to reports, in the Doon quarry there is no raw material suitable for cement and even if there was the crusher is not working, other plant is broken and the dumpers are all sold. In the Swanlinbar quarry there is still some material for cement but the quarry plant is broken and there are only 8 lorries to transport material instead of the 30 that were there in Quinn's time. There are no stock-piles of gypsum, boxide or coal.

It would appear to all of us that this a planned shut-down or sale. It seems the factory will soon be shut down again due to lack of material and the recession cannot be blamed this time.

The Aventas group are not in a position to supply the demand for any of their products. They could be selling twice as much but lack supplies, dumpers, shovels and especially lorries; there is no stock on any site.

Are QBRC aware of how bad the situation is? While we are all praying that their bid will be accepted as it is the only way to keep our jobs, we fear that if they knew the true situation they will not want to take on such run-down manufacturing businesses as they will have to start practically from the start again by buying basic machinery at no doubt hugely inflated prices compared to the give-away prices current management are selling them to their friends for.

We all hope the Cement and other factories will be operational for generations to come, but the facts on the ground can’t but make us worry.