A spokesman for management of the company confirmed during late night talks last night that SIPTU was made aware late last week, that several of Atlas’ main customers had warned the company that unless the dispute was resolved immediately they would have to remove their business at they could not accept a break in supply.

A strike at the company, over pay, began last Tuesday and management have said they are unable to pay the latest national wage agreement, which was upheld by an independent assessor appointed by the Labour Court recently.

Atlas Aluminium Ltd, which is based at the Atlas Enterprise park, Atlas Avenue, in Limerick, manufactures die cast components for the global car industry.

The company has been hit by a strike by workers at the plant for over a week and the company said it cannot now meet its orders and may have to shut.

It has been reported that Atlas Aluminium employees have not received pay rises in three years and that the staff claim in excess of €250,000 is owed in back payments. However, the company said it wished to put on record that this is completely untrue and not one single employee of Atlas Aluminium is due outstanding wage payments.

The workers, who are members of SIPTU, are in also in dispute with the company over certain  conditions including issues over pay with some of the Polish workers employed at the plant.

It’s the latest jobs blow to the region, which has experienced major jobs cuts over the past two years in parts of both East and West Limerick.

In a statement to the Limerick Independent a spokesperson for the company said it had also been reported that allegations were made that the company tends to expect the Polish workers to do more and give them the dirty jobs and that the company are trying to create a divide between Irish and Polish staff.

The company said it finds these “allegations distasteful and entirely refutes such a damaging assertion.”

“Atlas Aluminium treats all its employees whether Irish nationals or non nationals in an equal manner and in line with normal employee relations practices agreed with SIPTU.  All members of staff are members of SIPTU and their wages reflect the agreed union rate,” the company said.

According to its website the frim states that, “In twenty one years we have never failed to satisfy a customer.”

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