Workers at the Procter and Gamble pharmaceutical plant in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, are fearful for the future with the expected announcement of job losses at the plant this morning after a 24-hour wait for the news.
A number of members of staff were willing to voice their concerns for the future yesterday evening but were fearful of allowing their names to be published as their jobs hang in the balance.
Management at the plant have been accused of putting employees through 24 hours of torture.
The news of the crucial meeting was leaked at 8am yesterday and since then the workers have been pondering what lies in store for them. "It's a huge blow to the town if this plant goes. It has been one of the biggest employers in Nenagh for years and there are a lot of people in here who have seen sons and daughters join them in the plant," said one 29-year-old worker who has been with the company for 10 years.
"There are also a lot of young people and families with both spouses employed and it's very unfair that we have to wait and wonder until the morning to discover what happens. It will be a sleepless night for a lot of people here. We are very worried.
It's torture for us not knowing."
A man in his 40s, who has been employed with Procter and Gamble for over 20 years, said workers were "being kept in the dark".
"It's not fair to a lot of us who have given the best years of our lives to this company. We have been kept in the dark and only for the media we wouldn't know what's going on.
"We hope the announcement won't be as bad as everyone fears but as of this moment, I feel like sitting on a high stool for the night," he said.
While employees were forthcoming with their views they fear that if they are identified they may suffer if a job cull takes place. One worker said he would "go public" if he definitely knows his job is gone but until then he was willing to "hope for the best".
Approximately 600 workers at the plant will be told of their fate this morning by senior management, Procter and Gamble press officer Marion Baker said. She also confirmed that the normal three-cycle shift will resume at the factory tomorrow morning.