This week in 1982: Clondalkin Paper Mill occupation

This week in 1982: Clondalkin Paper Mill occupation

ON JANUARY 25, 1982, the employees of the Clondalkin Paper Mill climbed over the main gates to occupy the factory in protest over losing their jobs.

This news video from the RTE Archives covers the sit-in, which occurred just days after the mill closed – and following the break down of talks aimed at averting closure.

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Images courtesy of RTE Archives footage

According to information provided by RTE Archives, workers rejected a bonus scheme which would have saved around 300 of the 470 jobs at the plant.

However, workers claimed that they had been misrepresented and given a raw deal.

In this 36-year-old footage, RTE reporter Alan McCullough spoke with workers, who accused the Clondalkin management of “intransigence and of wanting to close the plant”.

At the time of the report, workers were still optimistic that their jobs could be saved and planned to remain in the factory until they got their jobs back.

The plant would eventually close, with the loss of all jobs, and although the mill was eventually bought by a Canadian group and reopened on a scaled down level, the future was not to be favourable for the old mill.

To watch the RTE News coverage of the sit-in, click here

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