THERE was another blow for the north's beleaguered manufacturing sector last night when Camden Glass said it was closing its Benburb plant with the loss of 65 jobs.
The company makes PVC doors, windows, conservatories and is one of the largest employers in the Co Tyrone town, where it has operated for more than 40 years.
In the last year its parent firm Camden Group saw its turnover rise from £29.5m to £36.1m, and it doubled its operating profits from £603,000 to £1.2m.
In February 2011 the company announced a £16m investment which it said would create 225 new jobs over the next three years, and it benefited from £1.6m of financial aid from Invest NI.
The Unite union's regional officer Joanne McWilliams said members had raised concerns about recent transfers of equipment, and when clarification was sought, management confirmed they were commencing a statutory 30-day consultation on closing the glass production plant.
“Many workers in Benburb have long-standing service, and management have offered the workforce only the bare minimum, statutory redundancy."
