EU fund providing opportunities for former airplane maintenance workers
An EU Fund is helping SIPTU members made redundant by the closure of PWA International and Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland (LTAI) to re-train for a future in a diverse array of new careers.
Among those availing of the re-training opportunities made available due to funding from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) is Tony O’Reilly, a former SIPTU Shop Steward in PWA International. The aircraft maintenance company based in North Dublin finally ceased all operations this June with the loss of over 100 jobs.
“When they announced the plan to close our plant in 2013 the company claimed that there was overcapacity in its operations and job orders were likely to decline. We proved that this was not the case and the closure was really due to work being moved to a new plant in Singapore due to the company seeking to avail of tax breaks over there,” Tony said.
“Because the plant closure was due to global factors, with the assistance of the union we eventually managed to secure funding from the EU Global Adjustment Fund. So did our colleagues who had been working in the Lufthansa maintenance plant just beside us which announced it was also closing in late 2013 resulting in over 400 job loses.”
He added: “The funding is absolutely brilliant. It means that for the next two years there is €11,000 available for third level education and other training courses for every person who lost their job when the plants closed. The funding is managed by the State training agency, Solas.
“I am currently doing a HDip course on coaching and coaching psychology through University College Cork in a centre in Tallaght. Its an absolutely fabulous opportunity.”
LIBERTY ONLINE
Liberty Online is produced by the Communications Department of SIPTU. Liberty Online is distributed on a regular basis to members who are on the SIPTU e-mail data base. In order to maximize circulation of this news bulletin and other messages and statements we urgently ask recipients to gather the e-mail addresses of other SIPTU members who are not already on the data base. Please forward e-mail addresses to communications@siptu.ie
SIPTU Head Office | Liberty Hall | Dublin 1 | Ireland