350 jobs under threat at Motorola Cork


29 Jan 2007

It has emerged that Motorola is to enter into a consultation process regarding the future of its Cork operation where some 350 engineers are employed.

The news comes just over a week after it emerged that 3,500 workers at Motorola worldwide are to be laid off on the back of a disappointing 48pc decline in fourth quarter profits.

Motorola employs 350 people at the Mahon, Co Cork operation across a number of roles and a further 10 people in sales and marketing in Dublin.

This afternoon it emerged that all 350 workers at the plant could face redundancy. Some 90 workers were laid off last year.

In a statement the company said that it has informed employees at the plant of its intention to enter an employee consultation process regarding the future of the site as soon as possible.

“Motorola is considering a proposal to cease all engineering functions carried out at the site. If this proposal was to be confirmed, it would result in the vast majority of employees at the site being at risk of redundancy and could make the site unsustainable as a Motorola facility.

“Motorola fully intends to carry out the consultation process with the highest possible level of consideration for all of its employees in Cork at this very difficult time.

“No further comment will be given until the consultation process is complete,” the company said.

This is the second time in a year that the future of the plant was in doubt. Last year it was feared that amid a global restructuring programme up to 150 workers at Motorola’s Cork operation would be laid off. However, in the end 90 workers were made redundant.

By John Kennedy