30 jobs go as shirt factory shuts

Tag : Textile Shirt

One of the last remaining shirt factories in Londonderry is toclose with the loss of 30 jobs.
Glenaden Shirts on Trench Road went into administration onThursday, but staff were only told on Monday when they returnedfrom a week's break.
The terms of redundancy will be met by the government.
Earlier this year, the company made two-thirds of its thenworkforce redundant, blaming a fall in demand for shirts sourced inthe UK.
"Downward pressure on prices has continued and consumer demand hasfallen in the current difficult economic climate," a companystatement said.
"In addition, an important retail customer has run intodifficulties leaving GSL with a large debt.
"These factors have created difficult trading conditions and adecision has been reluctantly taken, after much consideration andwith the benefit of legal advice, to place GSL intoadministration."
One of the workers, John Rankin, said the news did not come as asurprise.
"To be honest we were sort of half expecting it because we'reoperating in a large factory with about 30 employees.
"We were down to about 400 shirts a week and it didn't makeeconomical sense to think that the place would survive," he said.