The Bord na Móna (BNM) Group of Unions has called an extraordinary meeting of shop stewards and officials to discuss the announcement by the company, yesterday (Thursday, 7th May), that it intends to close its peat briquette plant in Littleton, County Tipperary, in early 2018. The meeting will take place in the SIPTU Office in Tullamore, County Offaly, on Monday (8th May) morning. BNM Group of Unions Secretary and SIPTU Organiser, John Regan, said: “The meeting will discuss the threat to close the Littleton plant and what actions will be taken in response to it. Following the meeting BNM Group of Unions’ representatives will meet with management on Monday afternoon. “BNM Group of Unions representatives also intend to discuss the situation with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten. We are confident that the Minister will agree to discuss the situation with us when he addresses a Climate Change seminar which is taking place in the Communications Workers Union Conference Centre on Wednesday, 10th May, beginning at 9.30 a.m.” He added: “It is appropriate that the BNM decision to close the Littleton plant is raised at this seminar as the move runs directly counter to the ‘Just Transition’ programme for the energy sector which will be the basis of discussions. The Just Transition programme is a framework that has been developed by the trade union movement to ensure workers' jobs and livelihoods are secure when economies are introducing measures aimed at avoiding climate change. “The BNM Group of Unions has stated that it does not accept the decision by the Board to close the Littleton plant and it will consider industrial action in order to prevent the closure taking place.”
BNM Group of Unions calls meeting on Monday to discuss plant closure threat
