Cadbury owner Mondelez has shocked workers in Ireland with plans to cut more than 200 jobs – as fears over the future of the historic Bournville factory increase.
The American giant has announced plans to close its gum-base production plant in Tallaght, Dublin, with the loss of 45 permanent jobs.
The company is also to cut 160 jobs at its other facilities in Coolock, near Dublin, and Rathmore, County Kerry.
The shock job losses were announced as speculation mounts over the future of Bournville amid claims that American bosses have ‘smashed’ Cadbury’s culture, with older employees being ‘railroaded towards redundancy.’
A leaked document to the Mail accuses bosses of a ‘woeful’ management style, claims the shopfloor is being ‘run by temporary managers and agency workers.’ and raises fears over a ‘relocation strategy’ for the Bournville plant.
Mondelez, which employs more than 900 people in Ireland, said the Tallaght site would close in early 2016.
The company said the decision to shut the plant follows an ‘in-depth review’ which found that the cost of production at Tallaght is at least twice as expensive as other similar plants.
“Global demand for gum is declining and the development of a new, superior technology for the production of end-to-end gum products supersedes the current technology in Tallaght.”
A total of 45 permanent roles and 17 contracted roles are to be lost and the company has begun a consultation process with employees and trade union representatives.
“Our gum ingredient factory in Tallaght faces too many production cost challenges to be sustainable and regrettably we see no alternative to the proposal to close this plant,” said Phil Hodges, senior vice president, integrated supply chain for Mondelez International.
Trade union representatives are seeking an urgent meeting with management over the job losses, which they said came as a ‘complete shock’ to employees amid anger that production was being switched to Poland.
