Unions discuss hosiery firm cuts

The textiles industry has been badly hit by job losses

Management and unions at one of Northern Ireland's biggest textile companies have held discussions over the future of the hosiery firm.

Workers at the Adria factory in County Tyrone were told on Thursday that 185 of them are to be made redundant.

The losses come on top of 175 redundancies at the Strabane-based company which were announced in March.

Adria blamed the decision on what it called "particularly harsh global trading conditions".

It said the reorganisation was needed to continue meeting the future demands of the market place.

Four months ago, trade unionists spoke about their fears as a result of what the company called its "business restructuring plan".

Adria described the decision as "regrettable but necessary".

It also said the number of jobs going was fewer than had previously been anticipated, partly because of an improved trading position since the start of this year.

The company said it was confident that it had a long term future in the town and would continue to be a "significant employer" with about 300 people on its books.

Ben Hegarty said the job losses were "devastating"

Ben Hegarty, a father of four who has worked at Adria for 18 years, said people were "stunned".

"We knew it was coming. But we were hoping it would not be as big an amount of people," he said.

"Most of the people have mortgages, cars, houses. It has a major knock-on effect on the economy of the town.

"It is going to be devastating, not only for the workers, but for a lot of businesses."

Billy McCreight, a trade union official with the GMB, said he was "not particularly surprised" by the announcement.

"There was serious expectation that there would be further reduction in jobs during the current calendar year. I am disappointed," he said.

"It will take the company down to a core workforce of around 300. They (Adria) are stressing that there is a future on the Strabane site, it will be a centre of excellence and, hopefully, this will see it stabilise."

Billy McCreight, GMB, said he was "disappointed" by the news

Adria has begun a 90-day consultation period with union representatives.

It said it would also help those affected to search for alternative employment.

The Sinn Fein MP for West Tyrone, Pat Doherty, said the jobs losses were a "devastating blow to the local economy".

Mr Doherty said Secretary of State Peter Hain should respond to his call for a package of economic aid for the Strabane district.

DUP Assembly member Robin Newton said Invest Northern Ireland should have done more to prevent the job losses.

"The strategy that they are adopting at this moment in time is not favourable towards the manufacturing sector," he said.

SDLP West Tyrone assembly member Eugene McMenamin said the redundancies were a "colossal loss to individuals and the economy".

"My thoughts are with all those who have lost their jobs as this will undoubtedly result in financial difficulties for many families," he said.

Northern Ireland's textiles industry has been badly hit in recent years and firms have struggled to ward off the threat of cheaper foreign imports.

In 2001, Adria cut 165 jobs. It was taken over by a local consortium in June 2002.

Another 55 jobs were shed in September 2003, while 58 employees were laid off last July.

Adria manufactures ladies', men's and children's hosiery products in Northern Ireland as well as in Turkey, Italy and Colombia.

It is the largest hosiery supplier to Marks and Spencer in the UK and the Victoria's Secret brand in North America.