Nash says proposed Paypal job losses a “hammer blow” for workers
Louth Labour TD, Ged Nash says the announcement of Paypal’s intention to let 62 staff in its Louth & Dublin operations go and its plans close its Dundalk offices on the 31st March is a “hammer blow” for its workers and the region’s economy.
Deputy Nash spoke with PayPal Executives this afternoon. He said that the proposed redundancy consultation process “should not be a done deal” and that “potential redeployment options” ought to be considered first, during the 28-day statutory engagement with staff.
The Labour TD said he is concerned that all of the potential redundancies will be compulsory and he has asked the company to seek to identify potential voluntary redundancies in the first instance.
On the call, the company said it intends to continue to retain all but 27 of its Dundalk staff but they will have to work remotely.
Deputy Nash, Labour’s spokesperson on Finance, Public Expenditure and Enterprise, said:
“Following on from 172 redundancies at the company, last May, the announcement today that the company wants to close its Dundalk offices, with a further 27 proposed redundancies locally and 62 nationally, is a hammer blow for its workers and their families.”
“Workers in the tech industry are feeling vulnerable and this latest news is another indication of a growing employment crisis in the sector.”
Deputy Nash spoke to senior figures in Paypal today and said there must be meaningful engagement with staff on the proposed redundancies.
“Under the law on collective redundancies their plans should be treated as a proposal and not a final decision as the consultation process with staff has yet to get underway.
“That formal engagement with staff will commence once employee representatives have been selected and I requested that staff are provided with full disclosure in terms of how and why the proposal for these redundancies has been made and that alternative cost saving measures must be discussed with staff before the trigger is pulled on redundancies.
“If redundancies are to proceed this will be a major blow for Dundalk especially.
“It is never a good time for your job to be at risk. Pay Pal has staff from all across Louth and the wider region. Coming hot on the heels of 172 redundancies at the same company, only last May, the IDA now need to be clear on what their investment and job replacement strategy is for the county.”