Cadburys to cut 450 jobs at Coolock factory

dublin | worker & community struggles and protests | news report Wednesday November 29, 2006 17:59 by w.

"high costs" blamed

One of Coolock's biggest employers, Cadburys, are looking to lay off up to one third of it's 1,100 staff over the next three years. Cadburys say that they are committed to remaining in Ireland, having invested over 80m euro since 1999 but must reduce staff numbers due to rising costs.

Cadbury's Coolock Plant - where wages get in the way of profits.

Costs of running the factory are said to have increased by over 26 percent reaching 97m euro while profits have halved over the last four years. Cadburys say that wages have increased by 2.4% while pension costs have gone up by almost 250%. Cadburys have blamed rising industrial electricity costs which are 30% higher in Ireland than in the UK and have increased by 55% in the past four years. Local politicians have blamed the government for ignoring the rising cost of production.

The job losses come as a massive blow to coolock, an area which already has a 25% level of unemployment. SIPTU says the reduncies are in the context of Cadburys remaining in Coolock and Ireland with no threat of job losses at their factories in Rathmore, Co Kerry or Tallaght.

The situation clearly shows that staff are being viewed as expendable and that wages and salaries are viewed as expenses which the company must cut to remain profitable. While Cabury's currently earns billions in profits each year and could easily afford to keep all of their staff at the Coolock plant the interests of their CEO's and shareholders are considered more important.