STATE-OWNED Bord na Móna is laying off more than 100 seasonal workers and putting a further 90 on short time as it struggles to cope with the worst harvest in its history.
The company, which harvests and processes peat from the State’s boglands, said this year’s harvest will be just 37 per cent of what it expected, making 2012 its worst year to date.
The previous worst was in 1985, when the company brought in 39 per cent of the predicted harvest. Bord na Móna blamed the summer’s record-breaking rainfall during July and August, which was 2½ times the average, for the poor crop.
As a result, it told staff yesterday that from October it intends to lay off 105 seasonal workers. At the same time, it will put a further 90-office based staff on short time until March.
The company said in a statement that “notwithstanding the difficulties presented by the weather, Bord na Móna is in a position to confirm it has taken steps to ensure it has adequate stocks of peat to supply its customers”.
It also has enough peat briquettes to meet demand this winter.
The company employs seasonal staff to work on its harvest from May to September every year.
A number of them are then hired during the winter and early spring to work on transporting peat to its power plants and other activities.
Instead of rehiring them for those tasks this year, it will redeploy permanent staff to those transport duties.
The company said the measure was designed to manage peat stocks and also control salaries and other various costs.
Reacting to the news, the Bord na Móna group of unions which represents most of the State company’s staff, said that it would work to minimise the impact of the cost-cutting proposals on members.
Secretary of the group and Siptu organiser Oliver McDonagh said the unions were disappointed the company had opted for lay-offs and short-time working.
“While we are willing to work with management to offset the hardships brought on by the excessively wet summer, we must also work to protect the interests of our members,” he added.
The company met unions last week to discuss the plan.
Bord na Móna is also involved in electricity generation through its peat-fired power station at Edenderry and a number of wind farms.
It also has a waste management business and is involved in a number of other activities.
