Well the Euro-crats have finally done it. Due to new EU legislation the Gallopers factory in Southern Ireland is to close as reported by the Ministry of Truth, otherwise known as the BBC. Below is the story culled from the BBC's website. The legislation was even voted for by Sinn Fein the supposed friend of the working man! When will people understand that the greatest revolutionaries join a system that is designed to make them harmless cogs of the global machine that perpetuates the interests of a select few. Well enough politics I am off to order every scrap of Condor I can get my hands on right this second!
Staff at a cigarette plant in County Antrim have been given time off to absorb the news that all 877 jobs are to be lost.
On Tuesday, staff were told the JTI Gallaher cigarette factory plant in Ballymena is to close permanently by 2017.
Previously known as Gallahers, the firm has manufactured tobacco in Northern Ireland for more than 150 years.
It is the last remaining tobacco factory in the UK.
Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister said it was "terrible news".
Full production will resume on Thursday although office staff are still working and the factory is open.
JTI Gallaher said because many workers had been left shocked by the news, there was a safety issue around the operation of equipment.
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said the introduction of the EU tobacco products directive had impacted on the plant
It is a major employer and its closure is a significant blow to the economy.
It is estimated that the plant in Ballymena contributed £60m in wages to the local economy.
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said the introduction of the EU tobacco products directive had impacted on the plant because of changes to the size of roll your own tobacco packs.
In February, MEPs voted by 514 in favour to 66 against, with 58 abstentions, to approve the new anti-smoking legislation.
It would have required major adjustments in technology and operations at the JTI Gallaghers's plant in the town.
The company has proposed moving its existing plants in Northern Ireland and Belgium to other countries, such as Poland and Romania.
Ms Foster criticised Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson for supporting the directive.
"Others were prepared to be champions of this EU directive," she said.
"Martina Anderson felt it was the right thing to do, but wasn't prepared to join the dots and to make the association that if she followed through on that support that it would cost jobs."
However, Ms Anderson said the directive would be applicable across Europe.
"It's going to be applicable in Poland, it's going to be applicable in Romania, and it was going to be applicable in the north," she said.
Staff at a cigarette plant in County Antrim have been given time off to absorb the news that all 877 jobs are to be lost.
On Tuesday, staff were told the JTI Gallaher cigarette factory plant in Ballymena is to close permanently by 2017.
Previously known as Gallahers, the firm has manufactured tobacco in Northern Ireland for more than 150 years.
It is the last remaining tobacco factory in the UK.
Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister said it was "terrible news".
Full production will resume on Thursday although office staff are still working and the factory is open.
JTI Gallaher said because many workers had been left shocked by the news, there was a safety issue around the operation of equipment.
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said the introduction of the EU tobacco products directive had impacted on the plant
It is a major employer and its closure is a significant blow to the economy.
It is estimated that the plant in Ballymena contributed £60m in wages to the local economy.
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said the introduction of the EU tobacco products directive had impacted on the plant because of changes to the size of roll your own tobacco packs.
In February, MEPs voted by 514 in favour to 66 against, with 58 abstentions, to approve the new anti-smoking legislation.
It would have required major adjustments in technology and operations at the JTI Gallaghers's plant in the town.
The company has proposed moving its existing plants in Northern Ireland and Belgium to other countries, such as Poland and Romania.
Ms Foster criticised Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson for supporting the directive.
"Others were prepared to be champions of this EU directive," she said.
"Martina Anderson felt it was the right thing to do, but wasn't prepared to join the dots and to make the association that if she followed through on that support that it would cost jobs."
However, Ms Anderson said the directive would be applicable across Europe.
"It's going to be applicable in Poland, it's going to be applicable in Romania, and it was going to be applicable in the north," she said.
