18/09/2012

105 Seasonal Bord na Móna Staff Laid Off

105 of Bord na Móna’s seasonal employees are to lose their jobs as a result of this year's poor peat harvest.

A further 90 staff are to be put onto short-time working, while there will also be redeployment of some full time staff, in order to generate cost savings.

Staff have been informed of the changes this morning.

The move follows the summer's record-breaking rainfall, which

severely impacted on Bord na Móna's peat harvesting operations.

In a statement, the company said the peat harvest is now 37% of the amount expected for 2012.

This means it is the worst ever harvest, and the company said it is unlikely that the shortfall can be recovered in what remains of the harvesting season that typically lasts from May to September.

As a consequence and in order to mitigate resultant losses, Bord na Móna said it had prepared a contingency plan which it intends to implement over the coming months.

The company said the plan includes "measures aimed at managing current peat stocks, revenue increases and cost control initiatives, both pay and non-pay."

(H)

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