Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Louise O’Reilly TD, has said news that Blizzard Entertainment have submitted a collective redundancy notification will come as a “significant concern to workers” and called on the company to engage with employees and their trade union in a bid to save jobs.

The Dublin-Fingal TD also said that if collective redundancies are pursued, the Minister for Enterprise must intervene to ensure redundancies are voluntary and not compulsory.

Speaking this morning, Teachta O’Reilly said:

“The news that video game developer Blizzard Entertainment may cut a significant number of jobs from its Irish workforce is an incredible shock to the workers, their families and their communities.

“The company has submitted a collective redundancy notification to the Department of Enterprise which requires a statutory 30-day consultation period.

“It is essential that the company engages quickly and in good faith with the workers and their trade union, the Financial Services Union (FSU), during this period with a focus on saving as many jobs as possible.

“Throughout this 30-day period the Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment should engage with Blizzard Entertainment and the FSU to see if there is any prospect of saving the jobs, and failing that, he must ensure that any redundancies are voluntary and not compulsory. 

“Furthermore, if it is a case that jobs are lost, then the Department of Enterprise must work with IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to understand the skills profile of impacted staff and ensure that profiles are shared with client companies of all state agencies who may be hiring or looking for similar skills.

“This situation reinforces the need for all workers to join, and be active, in their trade union. Workers need a strong voice in the workplace and the only way to achieve this is through trade unionism.

“The workers in Blizzard Entertainment must be the priority here and it is imperative that the government stands up for them.

“I offer mine and Sinn Féin’s solidarity and support to the workers at Three Ireland in what is a very difficult time.”