SIPTU condemns "very miserly approach" of BNM in Derrinlough talks

SIPTU has condemned what it has described as the “very miserly approach” adopted by Bord na Móna in discussions around a redundancy package for the former workers at the Derrinlough Briquette Factory

The union’s Divisional Organiser, Adrian Kane, confirmed to the Offaly Independent this week that the majority of the 62 remaining workers at the factory have availed of the voluntary redundancy package on offer after the conclusion of “difficult talks” between both sides at the Joint Industrial Relations Council.

“It is a very sad end to a proud part of our industrial heritage,” said Mr Kane, who added that the workers who have opted for voluntary redundancy are “the last of the bogmen, and it’s the end of a way of life”.

He said “a small number of workers” will remain on the payroll of Bord na Móna and will go on to work on the decommissioning of the factory and rewetting of the bogs.

Derrinlough Briquette Factory closed in June and talks have been ongoing between SIPTU and Bord na Móna since then in an effort to secure the future of the workforce, many of whom have long years of service with the company.

While he was reluctant to describe the workforce as being happy with the outcome of the negotiations, Andrew Kane said SIPTU had resolved the remaining issues “as best we could” and that the majority of workers had opted to take the lump sum package on offer.

However, he said the closure of Derrinlough represents “the death knell” for rural communities across West Offaly, and expressed doubts about whether or not the ‘Just Transition’ process can deliver jobs and prosperity to the area. “All across northern England there are many mining communities whose way of life is still decimated 50 years after the closure of the mines,” he remarked.