Crisis in Bord na Má½¹na now 'critical'

The crisis in Bord na Má½¹na has reached a critical stage, according to the Group of Unions (SIPTU, CONNECT, UNITE) which represents workers in the semi-state company.

In a statement issued this evening, the Group of Unions indicated that all Bord na Má½¹na jobs are now under threat

The statement came in the wake of a meeting between the Group of Unions and the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Tom Donnellan.

The unions say they were informed that unless a sense of urgency was injected into the concept of a “Just Transition” accompanied by real support from all stakeholders, the future of Bord Na Má½¹na appears dire.  According to Willie Noone, the secretary of the GOU, Mr Donnellan said that if nothing changes within the next month a “seismic decision” will have to be made and it will not be “good news” for workers.

“For the past number of weeks, the GOU have been working tirelessly to protect the conditions and jobs of almost 2000 workers who currently work in the company and to ensure that those who wish to voluntarily leave can do so with dignity and respect,” Willie Noone said.

“Although the GOU has insisted that recent threats to make workers compulsorily redundant will not be accepted, the company has said that it is now in a financially precarious position and will have no option but to take unpopular and decisive action, probably within a month.

“The GOU is actively re-engaging with politicians of all parties as it is clear that a resolution to the crisis is in the political arena and, if not resolved, will have devasting consequences for thousands of current employees as well as former workers who depend on Bord na Má½¹na pensions.

“Concrete and real solutions are now required while the Government must urgently establish its promised national ‘Just Transition’ taskforce to deal with the issues affecting Bord na Má½¹na workers and their communities and to avoid catastrophic job losses at the company.”