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Bad weather forces BnM to cut staff

Tuesday, September 18 17:30:14

Bord na Mona is to let go 105 seasonal staff and place a further 93 staff on short time work after one of its worst ever harvests, it said today.

The Bord na Mona Group of Unions has said it will seek to minimise the impact of a management plan.

Last week, Bord na Mona management met with union representatives to present its plan for dealing with the poor peat harvest this year.

At the meeting management said the 2012 peat harvest was the worst in the history of Bord na Mona. Normally at this time of year the company would have achieved more than 85pc of its production target however, due to inclement weather, management said only 35pc of the target had been achieved and the shortfall could not be made up in the winter months.

As a result the company has announced that there will be layoffs for seasonal workers and a shorter working week for some permanent staff. Those affected by the implementation of a shorter working week are mainly employed in Bord na Mona's Central Support Group office in Newbridge, Co. Kildare.

Secretary of the Bord na Mona Group of Unions and SIPTU Organiser, Oliver McDonagh said: "The Bord Na Mona Group of Unions is disappointed that management has gone down the road of layoffs and short time working. We will meet with management in each affected area to minimise the impact on our members to the greatest extent possible."

"While we are willing to work with management to offset the hardships brought on by the excessively wet summer we must also work to protect the interests of our members," he added.