strike. The multi-national owned Ferenkasteel-cord factory in Limerick, Southern Ireland was closed down for good Jast week, 400 workers were thrown on the dole, the day after they had returned to work alter an eight week The factory was shut by an decision ol a who had conned the workers and the Irish Government alike. membership.
vears of operation in Limerick, Ferenka had received varfrom the government totalling over £T.S million. THey also had the benefit of paying wages whose rates were less than half those paid to Ferenka workers on the continent.
It was such conditions wiich directly led to the cight week strike which Ferenka has used as the pretext for Tole of The production line workers were fed-up at the Tole and the Irish and General the Workers Union had played at Ferenka. The union had relised to make official any of the 14 strikes which had taken placeat the plant in the last six years. Such inaction persuaded the workers to seck another union so they joined the Marine Port General Workers Union Seeing the recruitment to the MPGWU as a sign of militancy the management any sacked those leading the recruitment and the strike began. It was finally settled last week when the unions concerned agreed to a ballot not taken the closure lying of the workers to determine their wishes on union TWO FINGERED get.
But this settlement clearly annoyed Ferenka management. It opened the prospect of a real fight in the workplace for better jobs and conditions. So tha closed the factory The whole affair is a striking illustration of the multi-national companies. Perenka moved into Limerick with the promise of government aid low wages. The unofficial strikes had mean plant was the shop goldmine the company had hoped. The latest strike had shown the determination of the workers to secure better treatment. Ferenka was baving none of that. The final cynical two-fingered gesture of the company was the announcement closures, which was in breach. of gOvernment legislation stipulating that company planning redundancies had to give 30 days notice prior to the dismissals The Ferenks workers have down. The plant is now occupied and suggestions are being made TO TEED the factory into a co-operative, But the workers needs as much support as they can They are asking for workers at plants owned by Ferenka in Britain to pass messages of sympathy, send money and to boycott any Limerick work which is transferred to their factorjes. These include the following factories: British Enkalon at Thornaby Stockton on Tees, Leicester and Oadhy-Leicester; Novadel, London; Interstab, Liverpool and Armour Hess Chemicals, Harrogare, Readers of Socialist Challenge are urged to get in touch with stewards at these factories and explain the Limerick More Information can be obtained, c/a Boltom Dog. 109 Malley Park, Limerick,