The Daily Mail is suggesting that the 1200 Cadbury jobs in Ireland are at risk after their takeover by Kraft. Apparantly Kraft have stated that they are committed to maintaining the Cadbury jobs in 'Britain' - the terminology of course implying that such a statement, in so far as it has any value, does not apply to the Irish jobs. Something like 900 are employed in Coolock, 200 in Tallaght and 100 in Rathmore.
Maybe they're just geographically challenged in the Kraft boardroom and don't konw the difference between UK and Ireland. Heck, some of the posters here don't even seem to grab that distinction. I hope this is the case because losing so many jobs would be a real blow.
It's a valid concern, the promises maed by Kraft in relation to the UK jobs were in relation to public outcry over there due the fact that Cadburys is an integral part of the history of some areas in the UK, and that up to 30,000 jobs were at stake. Even the government weighed in on the debate, warning Kraft to behave. That's why Kraft had to make those concessions, and those circumstances do not prevail here. There was very little interest in the takeover bid in Ireland at the time, and even if there was we probably wouldn't have had the influence to do anything.
Let's hope they take a long term view and keep the workers on though.
To live honestly, to hurt no one, to give every one his due.
I wonder if they got threatening emails in the dying days of the Lisbon campaign hinting their jobs were in danger if the treaty was defeated like many workers did. Would be a cruel cruel irony if they did.Originally Posted by kerrynorth
So you think their jobs would have been saved had they rejected the Treaty?
To live honestly, to hurt no one, to give every one his due.
The logic of any takeover like this and the price paid is that the board of Kraft reckon they can run the operation more efficiently than the current Cadbury management i.e. squeeze costs. If, and its a big if, they are to be nailed on their commitment to employment in 'Britain' then that does not leave a lot of other places to look for efficiencies. If they can get more productivity out of their UK workforce, as they clearly believe they can, why would you maintain a parallel workforce in Ireland who in the main do not make anything different than they do in the UK and where the main Irish buyers are now sourcing direct from the UK anyway! The 200 Tallaght jobs may be the safer because the raw material they supply also supplies European operations but Coolock and Rathmore are Ireland focused.
Our minister for trade and enterprise is on the case.
They're going to 'synergise' the sh1t out of Ireland.
Lord Mandelson said: "I'm glad now to be in personal touch but what I will be looking for are much harder, more specific commitments in the next three to six months.
"I was disappointed that she was unable to confirm that Cadbury's confectionery brands will continue to be managed and operated globally out of the UK.
"On the other hand she said that she expects Britain to be a net gainer in manufacturing output and employment so that was encouraging, but what we've got to do now is to remain in close touch."
BBC News - Mandelson's 'disappointment' after Kraft meeting
If that quote is not ominous for their Irish operations I do not know what is!
Seems to be a lot of pressure from UK government for Kraft to keep their jobs.
What do Cadburys make in Ireland? I suppose it will come down to costs & whether there is anything in Ireland that cannot be made elsewhere. I guess they use Irish milk - could that be easily replaced?
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