THERE ARE GROWING concerns for 670 jobs in Kerry as German firm Liebherr Container Cranes says it is re-evaluating its dependency on its Killarney operations.
A strongly-worded statement from the company comes after an industrial dispute which led to the Labour Court awarding a backdated 2.5 per cent pay rise to employees.
Siptu representative Marie Kennedy said the statement in relation to the Labour Court ruling is “extremely unhelpful”.
The union has sought clarification from the Labour Court about the terms of its recommendation.
Workers suspended a planned fortnight of industrial actions ahead of the hearing last week.
“It is very worrying and Liebherr has been fantastic to Killarney and Kerry…The statement sent shivers down my spine looking at it,” said local Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin.
His backbench colleague Arthur Spring told Radio Kerry that he would contact the German ambassador about the matter.
Liebherr says it has already started transferring some work from its plant in Killarney back to Germany, adding that it was “most disappointed” with recent developments in Ireland.
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