100 let go as minister announces 19 new jobs

UP to one hundred contract workers are to be let go at the Thermo King plant in Galway - days after the Government announced 19 new jobs at the same plant in a blaze of glory.Just last Monday, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Michael Martin announced that 19 research and design posts would be created at Thermo King. Although the number of positions created was small, the Minister said they would “underpin manufacturing jobs into the future” at the Mervue based factory. However, Thermo King has confirmed to Galway West TD Deputy Padraic McCormack that 65 temporary workers at the refrigeration manufacturing plant will be laid-off in the next two weeks.A further 35 temporary workers, whose contracts expire in the next two months, are not expected to have their contracts renewed either. All of the posts are understood to be in manufacturing.The appearance of the Minister at the factory on Monday and the positive publicity he has received as a result has left a sour taste in the mouths of some workers, according to Deputy McCormack.The Fine Gael politician blasted Minister Martin for being “grossly insensitive” to the temporary workers who watched him traipse through the factory floor on Monday announcing good news and concealing the reality that the temporary jobs would be chopped. It is understood that Thermo King, like most manufacturing companies, hires and lets go temporary workers at various times throughout the year depending on demand.However, Deputy McCormack said that it was still.....................