Union talks resume today in bid to save 20 DHL jobs in Athlone

Talks are to resume today (Wednesday) between DHL bosses and SIPTU in a bid to prevent the closure of seven of its nationwide branches, including Athlone, which would result in 320 redundancies. Workers at the DHL Express regional depot in Blyry Industrial Estate are hopeful that the union talks may result in some jobs being saved and perhaps even keep some of the regional depots open. There are 20 people employed in the Athlone branch. SIPTU reps and DHL spent three hours in talks on Monday and agreed to enter a process of looking at cost-saving measures on a depot by depot basis, which could prevent some closures and reduce the overall number of redundancies. DHL was due to provide more detailed information on its proposed cutbacks to SIPTU within 24 hours of Monday"s meeting and this information is to be the subject of today"s discussions. Staff members have also agreed to enter into the cost evaluation process so that all the alternatives can be fully explored. 'We put it very forcefully to the company... that they should have come to us first to discuss cost saving measures before deciding unilaterally to close seven depots and slash the workforce by 320, almost half the total,' said SIPTU Branch Organiser Pat Ward. He said that DHL provided a broad outline of the rationale behind the cuts at Monday"s meeting. 'They have also expressed a willingness to engage with us in looking for alternative measures that might avert the closure of depots and reduce the number of redundancies,' he added. As of now DHL wants to reduce employment in its three hubs at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports, as well as closing its depots in Athlone, Cavan, Enniscorthy, Galway, Sligo, Tralee and Waterford. There are 105 staff employed throughout the seven regional depots.