Superquinn Meet Union Over Store Closure

Over 100 Superquinn workers in the Naas store are due to meet trade union representatives at a meeting to discuss the looming store closure this morning.

Union's called for the meeting yesterday after an announcement that the County Kildare store will close because its lease is due to expire on February 4th.

A Superquinn spokesman said the company would offer staff in Naas the opportunity to redeploy within the company, where possible, to minimise job losses.

Gerry Light from the trade union Mandate said he will do everything to secure the best possible outcome for the staff involved.

The news comes a day after more bad news for workers, as Kerry Airport announced it would be slashing its workforce by a third.

Management at Kerry Airport revealed 20 jobs would be cut from a staff of 65.

Denis Cregan, chairman of Kerry Airport, blamed a fall-off in passenger numbers and Ryanair's decision to reduce services to Dublin. He said: "This action is necessary to safeguard the business in the medium term and to protect the remaining jobs. "We regret the necessity for such action but it is considered unavoidable in the present circumstances."

Ryanair cut the frequency of its daily return flights between Kerry and Dublin from three to one in October.

Joe Costello, Labour's Spokesperson on Transport said this morning that the decision by Kerry Airport to cut its workforce by almost a third was "most disappointing".

"Already Michael O’Leary of Ryanair, who had operated the flights between Dublin and Kerry for the previous two years, pulled the plug and had reduced the daily flights to only one since October 2010. This caused serious timetabling problems for business trips and for connecting flights in particular."

The airline claimed it was forced into the move because the Government did not increase public service obligation subsidies on the route. Kerry Airport said the proposed lay-offs will take effect from February 4. Staff representatives are in talks with management.

(DW)