A Clare TD is calling on Nestle to honour its corporate responsibility to hundreds of employees in the Mid West region.
It comes amid growing fears for the future of workers at the Askeaton Wyeth Nutrition plant and for contractors in this county.
Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD insists all efforts will be made to restore employment opportunities in a thriving industrial zone in the Mid West region.
It comes as Nestlé has announced its intention to wind down operations at its Wyeth Nutrition plant in Askeaton, Co. Limerick.
The research and development centre at the site is proposed to be shut by early 2025, while the baby formula production facility would close by 2026 placing 547 jobs immediately at risk.
However uncertainty is also mounting for the many contractors providing services at the facility, as on Wednesday contractors on the premises were told to go home before a meeting with staff and management.
The plant itself previously belonged to Pfizer until 2012 before Nestle took over operations, and Meelick based Deputy Cathal Crowe says while the immediate priority is employee welfare, all avenues must be exhausted to ensure the facility is repurposed.
Unite trade union meanwhile, which represents administrative, technical and craft grades at Wyeth, says workers will not take the closure of the plant lying down.
It’s calling on management to engage with unions at the earliest opportunity in a bid to examine alternatives to the proposed closure.
Unite Regional Officer Jean O’Dowd said the news will have far reaching implications for the region if it closes.
You can listen to the full interview below.
