Braun package accepted

Workers at Braun Ireland in Carlow voted yesterday to accept a redundancy package which, the company says, secures the future…

Workers at Braun Ireland in Carlow voted yesterday to accept a redundancy package which, the company says, secures the future of the plant.

The factory is Carlow's biggest employer with 780 staff. The company plans to reduce its permanent workforce by 138 through a voluntary severance package.

Workers voted last week to reject the redundancy offer, giving rise to fears for the future of the plant.

An amended package was accepted yesterday, however, by 393 votes to 223.

The result was welcomed by Mr Gerry Kierans, a director, who said it marked "a new beginning" for the company. The plant would now benefit from capital investment and its future had been "absolutely secured".

Mr Michael Browne, SIPTU branch secretary, said the union had set out to ensure a voluntary package would be available and that "people would not be forced out of their employment".

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Chris Dooley

Chris Dooley

Chris Dooley is Foreign Editor of The Irish Times