Dale Farm pledges to soften impact of jobs blow

Management at Dale Farm’s plant at Tassagh in Keady have given Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson and local Assembly member Danny Kennedy assurances that the company will do everything it can to help employees find new jobs before the company closes the plant in September with the loss of 24 jobs.

The confirmation comes after a meeting this morning to discuss last week’s announcement that the plant is being shut down later this year.

Following the meeting, Mr Kennedy said: “We have had frank discussions with David Dobbin, chief executive of Dale Farm and senior management but unfortunately the company is determined to proceed with the rundown of the plant and we expressed our tremendous disappointment at the decision.

“We pressed for an assurance that the company would endeavour to be as generous as it could in dealing with staff so far as compensation and redundancy are concerned.

“We are pleased to report that management did give an undertaking in this respect and that they would also assist in whatever way possible to assist staff find alternative employment.”

Mr Kennedy said: “We were left in no doubt that Dale Farm’s decision to concentrate its operation at Cullybackey was not taken lightly. The firm spelt out in the clearest terms the harsh reality it faced in terms of the market place and we accept that they have been forced to take this action by outside factors."

Mr Kennedy said that he was satisfied that the company intended to help the staff in a "professional and sensitive manner", but added "the village will feel the economic chill of the closure when it comes in September.”

Last week the dairy product manufacturer, announcing a £4 million investment plan as part of a shake-up of its Northern Ireland operations, said it was to close the Tassagh operation in September.

Developing its plant in Cullybackey in Co Antrim creating 15 jobs, Dale Farm said that the plans aim was to develop the Dromana plant as a centre of excellence for the manufacture and packing of butter and dairy spread products.

However, the company's smaller yellow fat processing plant at Tassagh, County Armagh, will be shutdown.

(SP)