WORKERS AT a Co Clare company which last week announced plans to seek 150 redundancies have now been told there are plans to introduce a three-week working month and a rostering system for the remaining workforce in 2009.
The announcement comes just a week after Element Six (formerly De Beers Industrial Diamonds) confirmed it intended to reduce its 620-strong workforce by 150 before year-end.
A letter confirming the move to a "three week on - one week off" arrangement beginning on January 5th, was due to be sent to staff this week. However, as of last night it had not been sent.
It is thought the company has bowed to union pressure and has put the plan on hold.
Siptu says it is adamant there should be no "short time" for workers. "There has been no agreement on this issue, and discussions on the matter are not a priority, so it is not the subject of discussions at present."
Union representatives and management are in talks to agree a redundancy package. One meeting was held last week following the original announcement, while a second round of talks took place in Shannon on Tuesday.
Workers say they have been told that if enough people do not sign up for the voluntary redundancy package by December 19th, the company will institute compulsory redundancies.