THE JOINT LIQUIDATORS of the Target Express freight company have announced a deal with Masterlink Logistics for the sale of certain aspects of the company.
It was announced at the start of this week that Target Express was ceasing trading. Staff subsequently launched a sit-in protest over their unpaid wages, saying they had not been forewarned of the closure.
Masterlink says that it intends to re-employ as many of the Target Express workforce as possible, but that it is too soon to determine how many it can employ.
The company said this evening that the number of jobs it can provide “will necessarily be dependent on customer support for the former Target Express business”.
“However, Masterlink Logistics will be seeking to restore as many of the jobs that were lost earlier this week as possible, and in that respect will be in immediate contact with all of the key customers, many of whom have found interim solutions, and will appeal to them to reinstate their business.”
Headquartered in Blanchardstown, Masterlink has been in operation for 21 years and currently employs 350 staff and operates warehouses in Blanchardstown and Parkwest in Dublin, along with facilities in Cork, Down and Galway.
Target Express liquidators Michael McAteer and Stephen Tennant said in a statement that they would like to “particularly thank the Target Express employees for their engagement and cooperation over the last number of days which facilitated us in securing this sale”.
The Department of Social Protection said this evening that it would continue to engage with Target Express workers “to ensure that their needs are met through pro-active and timely access to a range of income maintenance, money advice and employment support services”.
Officials from the department are due to meet workers in Cork on Tuesday to discuss their entitlements.
“Employees should note that it is not necessary to have a P45 at the time of application for jobseeker’s payment, and for award of claim. As the facts of this case are known, it is clear that the employment has ceased. If a person satisfies all of the relevant conditions, jobseeker’s payment will be made,” the department said this evening.
“For those whose income is insufficient to meet their needs, emergency payments may be available under the Department’s Supplementary Welfare Scheme. Information about Supplementary Welfare Allowance and other social welfare payments is available at www.welfare.ie or at Social Welfare Local Offices nationwide.”
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