Staff at the Kilkenny People printing press were shocked to hear that the facility now owned by Johnston Press is to shut down with the loss of 46 jobs.
The UNITE trade union which represents the workers has been called into consultation with the company which has announced the intention to close the printing operation on October 31.
The Kilkenny People has been printed in the city for more than 100 years. It was sold to the Johnston Press four years ago.
Johnston Press plans to expand its printing operations at Limerick and Carn to deal with its Irish regional publications printed at the plant, including the Kilkenny People.
According to the company the plant has been loss-making for some time.
UNITE regional officer Billy Kyne said that the decision is a hammer blow to the city which only days ago was riding high.
“We will be fighting to get the best terms possible for one of the most loyal and long standing group of workers in the country.
“We have a Labour Court recommendation from August 2007 which clearly states, having heard arguments from both sides with regard to redundancy proposals at the time, that workers should be paid four weeks’ salary per year of service over and above the statutory redundancy payment and that this should be uncapped.
“Johnston Press made half year profits of nearly £30stg million in the first six months of 2009. We expect them to play fair with their Irish workforce.”
David Crow divisional managing director said,"a review of our print operations in the Republic of Ireland identified that through expansion of spare capacity at the Limerick and Carn print facilities, the needs of customers and newspapers can be met in a more cost-effective and sustainable way."
