JTI Gallaher cigarette factory plant in Ballymena to close permanently by 2017

qwert_yuiop

mamabuddah wrote: »

Main causes were excise duty, illegal ciggie sales and the final nail in the coffin was this new EU directive about packets and sizes being produced....

Can't be right - Bulgaria and Romania are in the EU as well.

happy_gardener

Just means that the massive Green Pastures complex...planned for the Ballee area will be passed. That will mean new jobs for the area.

motorguy

qwert_yuiop wrote: »

Can't be right - Bulgaria and Romania are in the EU as well.

I think its relative to what was being produced in the factory and what the machinery there was capable of producing - ie, small packets.

So you've a factory there with a high wage bill and equipment that is out of step with legislation / demand.

GlynD

qwert_yuiop wrote: »

Can't be right - Bulgaria and Romania are in the EU as well.

Way behind the longer serving members in terms of cigarette and alcohol controls though.

absoluteutopia

happy_gardener wrote: »

Just means that the massive Green Pastures complex...planned for the Ballee area will be passed. That will mean new jobs for the area.

Thats all Ballymena needs, that size of an area being taken over and run by a cult

happy_gardener

absoluteutopia wrote: »

Thats all Ballymena needs, that size of an area being taken over and run by a cult

Yes cult it maybe but jobs it is also.

duggan1

motorguy wrote: »

I think its relative to what was being produced in the factory and what the machinery there was capable of producing - ie, small packets.

So you've a factory there with a high wage bill and equipment that is out of step with legislation / demand.

From what I hear high wage bill doesn't even begin to describe it. Forklift drivers on well over 30k a year due to being there many years.

motorguy

duggan1 wrote: »

From what I hear high wage bill doesn't even begin to describe it. Forklift drivers on well over 30k a year due to being there many years.

Assuming there is something contractual in RE: redundancy payments and its not just the basic, they'll have some redundancy payment bill.... :eek:

GlynD

absoluteutopia wrote: »

Thats all Ballymena needs, that size of an area being taken over and run by a cult

Whew - glad you spelt that one right.

GlynD

motorguy wrote: »

Assuming there is something contractual in RE: redundancy payments and its not just the basic, they'll have some redundancy payment bill.... :eek:

It'll be massive in my opinion. There are a lot of people there a very long time. Then again I think they'll probably have mitigated it quite a lot by the use of casual staff on a long term basis. Some guys and gals will be able to retire to the wee cottage in Portstewart though and walk the dog on the Strand every morning.