LIBERTY Insurance has denied claims that its retail staff in Blanchardstown were issued with compulsory redundancies.
The confusion arose just days after the company, which took over from Quinn Insurance, announced that it is to shed 285 jobs nationwide, of which 140 will be in Blanchardstown.
On announcing the cuts, the company said staff would be given a 30-day consultation period to ascertain how many redundancies could be made voluntarily.
However, local Cllr David McGuinness (FF) claimed that just days after the announcement a number of staff in Blanchardstown were informed that their redundancies would be compulsory.
“Reports are coming out that a number of staff have been issued with compulsory redundancies,
? he stated.
“This has caused shock and devastation among the staff as it is totally at variance with the previous announcement.
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However, a spokesperson for Liberty Insurance told Northside People that this wasn’t the case but confirmed that the company is to close its dedicated counters at its branches.
“I understand that some confusion has arisen with staff in Blanchardstown and I fully understand how as this is a time of much uncertainty and emotion for staff,
? he stated.
“Counter staff were told last Friday, November 16, that they could either take the voluntary redundancy package or could apply for other roles in the company if they opened up if other departments are oversubscribed.
“It’s a case of chicken and egg whereby we don’t know what vacancies are available until we know which and how many staff have applied for voluntary redundancy.
“Unfortunately nobody really knows where they stand until the 30-day consultation period is over.
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On announcing the widespread redundancies recently, Patrick O’Brien, chief executive of Liberty Insurance, said the company’s management, employees and the employees’ representative body would work together to discuss the issue during the consultation period.
“A year after acquiring the business we have decided to make the right decision to position us for sustainable profitability and to protect in excess of 1,100 jobs remaining,
? he said.
“We are fully committed to the Irish business, will continue to invest in our business, and believe that our arrival has been positive for the Irish insurance market and consumers.
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Reacting to the devastating jobs announcement, Dublin West TD Joe Higgins (SP) said he believes it will result in more people having to depend on social welfare payments.
“This State cannot afford any more job losses to add to a drastic unemployment situation,
? he said.
“The trade union movement must intervene immediately to ensure that these valuable jobs are safeguarded and to avoid yet more workers being heaped onto the ever-growing dole scrapheap.
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Patrick Nulty TD (Lab) called on the Government to secure suitable alternatives for those affected.
“With the ongoing job losses in Dublin 15 it is essential that suitable alternatives are secured, and I am calling on the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to focus on this matter immediately,
? he stated.