Union satisfied glass plant jobs are safe
Seamus Enright
Representatives of the Unite trade union have said they are satisfied with the strong assurances given by the new owners of the Encirc glass plants, formerly Quinn Glass, that the jobs of its 440 members in Derrylin will be safeguarded into the future. The new owners, Spanish firm Vidrala, have said that they will invest some €200m in the business and rebuild the furnace in Derrylin with the aim of expanding their business and market share.
There had been mounting fears about the future of the Derrylin plant if it went into the hands of foreign owners. Brian Monaghan, stand-down officer at the Unite union representing workers at Encirc, told the Celt this week that his organisation was “not interested in politics,” and instead is focused on maintaining the workforce.
His comments to The Anglo-Celt came following day-long talks with senior management at the Derrylin glass plant last Wednesday, January 21, which also involved meetings with Gorka Schmitt Zalbide, Director General and CEO of Vidrala.
“He reassured and reaffirmed to the unions that the €408.6m they invested in this area wasn’t for nothing. They have said they will rebuild the furnace, reassuring the long-term futures and the jobs of our members in this area,” Mr Monaghan said.
Meanwhile, arising out of a public meeting in Ballyconnell earlier this month, representatives of a new Quinn Glass Retention Group will meet with Carlos Delclaux, Vidrala company president, next month. QGRC is a local interest group, which includes members of the Quinn Business Retention Company (QBRC).
John McCartin, the chairman of QBRC, will form part of that delegation and he’s confidence that some agreement can be reached with the new owners.
“QBRC are ready to sit down and talk and listen. We are ready to discuss all possibilities regarding any and all local involvement, including any economic interest,” he said.
Fire not malicious
Meanwhile, Mr McCartin moved to deny recent reports that a fire in one of its articulated trucks last week was started maliciously, instead believing the blaze to be caused as a result of an “electrical fault”.
The PSNI last week reported attending the scene of a suspected incident of arson at a Quinn Industrial Holdings premises on the Ballyconnell Road area near Derrylin on Tuesday evening, January 20, where an articulated lorry was discovered on fire.
They are now appealing to anyone with information to come forward.
It’s understood the fire destroyed the drive unit of the vehicle and a small amount of damage to the attached trailer also, as well as to the cladding on the bagging plant.
“It was nothing major. We called the fire brigade and the police just to be sure. The lorry was in our own garage where we were trying to address an electrical fault with it. It went on fire shortly afterwards and all indications are that it was an electrical fault that caused the fire,” Mr McCartin said.
See this week's newspaper for full interview with Gorka Schmitt Zalbide, Director General and CEO of Vidrala.