This article is from page 3 of the 2007-10-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
THE loss of almost 200 jobs in Shan- non has been described as a “devas- tating blow” to the manufacturing sector in the Midwest region.
Tyco Electronics is the fourth com- pany from the Midwest to announce job losses in the last number of weeks.
Last month, a total of 260 jobs were lost in Analog Devices in Limerick, Rothenberger Ireland and Mohawk Europa in Shannon.
On Thursday Tyco announced that it was to shed 178 jobs in its plastic
products manufacturing plant to fac- tories in India, China and Mexico.
A statement from the company said, “the transfer is expected to be completed by September 30, 2009.”
It is believed, however, that the first redundancies will take place early next year.
Mayor of Clare Cllr Patricia Mc- Carthy (Ind) said that business, com- munity and political leaders across the region feared that the recent manufacturing job losses could mark the beginning of a haemorrhaging of jobs in the mid-west.
“The massive uncertainty created
by the potential loss of direct access from Shannon Airport to the interna- tional hub in London-Heathrow has heightened fears that other multina- tionals could follow suit by announc- ing job cuts or plans to relocate else- where,’ she said.
Shannon Mayor Cllr Sean McLoughlin (FG) expressed con- cern that some of those who have lost their jobs will find it difficult to se- cure new employment.
“Many of these workers who have been employed in the manufactur- ing sector for many years will find it difficult to up skill themselves.
Therefore, it is going to be extremely difficult for them to secure new em- ployment in present day high-tech knowledge-based companies.”
He said that the series of recent job losses required immediate Govern- ment intervention.
Tyco Electronics makes products for the motor, aerospace, defence, telecommunications and computer industries.
The company has owned the plant in Shannon since 1999. It was previ- ously known as Raychem which was established in the mid-west in 1978. Tyco said the “transfer of jobs” was
“a result of a strategic analysis to better align our manufacturing re- sources to streamline and improve operating efficiencies.”
A Shannon Development spokes- man described the announcement as a major disappointment and a severe blow for the employees and their families.
“While disappointed with the Tyco decision, which follows a global re- view of their manufacturing facilities worldwide, Shannon Development notes that 20 jobs will be retained by Tyco at Shannon in Research and Development activities.”