Blanchardstown insurance jobs go

LAST week’s news from Liberty Insurance that the company’s exit from the UK personal general insurance market would result in over 130 redundancies in Dublin 15 has been described as a major blow to the area.

The company said it would be holding a strategic review of its operating model in Ireland following its UK exit, which would see a total of 270 voluntary led redundancies nationwide.

Employees were told of the news at briefings in Cavan, Dublin and Enniskillen and it’s anticipated the redundancies will take effect over the next 18 months.

“While the final numbers are uncertain until the conclusion of the process, it is expected that there could be approximately 135 redundancies in Dublin,

? a spokesperson said.

Chief Executive of Liberty Insurance, Tom McIlduff, said the decision had been taken as the market had been loss making with an uncompetitive cost base.

Company management, employees and the employee representative body have begun a 30 day consultation period to discuss the redundancies.

Tánaiste, Minister for Social Protection and local Dublin West TD, Joan Burton, said a range of income and employment supports would be available to workers who needed them.

“My first thoughts are with the staff following this very difficult news,

? she said.

“While Liberty Insurance has stated that it will be seeking voluntary redundancies, nevertheless this will have an impact on livelihoods and local businesses in Blanchardstown.

?

Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, who is also a local TD, said that while there was some consolation in the fact that employment levels in the area remain healthy. It did little to lessen the blow.

“This announcement is a reminder that we must maintain the jobs that we have, and create new ones wherever we can,

? he added.

“I am assured that IDA and Enterprise Ireland will now step up their efforts to win new projects for the area.

?

Anti-Austerity Alliance TDs for Dublin West, Ruth Coppinger and Joe Higgins, both condemned the job cuts.

“This is the second time in three years that workers in this company in Dublin West have been hit by a round of job losses,

? said Deputy Coppinger.

“In November 2012, the company announced 285 job losses and of those 140 were in the Blanchardstown office. Now another 270 workers nationally will lose their jobs, 135 of them being in the Blanchardstown office.

“When Liberty made the first round of cuts in November 2012 they said that the cuts were necessary to protect the other jobs, yet here we are less than three years later and they are coming back again looking to cut more.

?

Deputy Higgins said the workers were now facing uncertain futures.

“The trade unions need to intervene into this situation to safeguard against any future job losses,

? he added.

“It is unacceptable that Liberty Mutual, the parent company and a major profitable multinational, ranked 78th on the Fortune 100 companies in the US can just decide to throw workers out of their jobs to increase their profitability.

?

Local Fianna Fail councillor, Jack Chambers, called on the area’s two Government ministers to outline their plans for the workers.

“Liberty Insurance is a large and valuable employer in Blanchardstown, providing highly-skilled jobs in the area,

? he said.

“I am calling on Dublin West Ministers Joan Burton and Leo Varadkar to outline what the Government intends to do to support the 135 workers in Blanchardstown who will soon be out of work and to ensure job security for the remaining staff here.

“I also want to know what efforts are being made to secure the future of the operation in Blanchardstown.

?

Cllr Paul Donnelly (SF) said he was shocked and disappointed at the news.

“It seems we are taking one step forward and two steps back when it comes to jobs,

? he added.

“Whilst I welcome the fact that there will be no compulsory redundancies, this will have a serious impact on our local economy.

“Though we are experiencing a recovery, it is not a fair recovery for all citizens and unfortunately certainly not a recovery for the 135 workers in Liberty Insurance in Blanchardstown.

?