Shock as Portarlington faces major job losses
The sudden shutdown has shocked staff at the Portarlington centre. File image
PORTARLINGTON is facing devastating job losses, with news that the company behind Fastway Couriers has gone into receivership.
The company’s customer care centre is based in Portarlington, where staff were shocked by a sudden shutdown today.
The company has arranged a meeting with the workers at 12 noon tomorrow but the outlook is bleak.
Nuvion Group, parent company of Fastway Couriers Ireland, Parcel Connect and Nügo, has ceased trading with immediate effect, with Mark Degnan and Brendan O’Reilly of Interpath Advisory appointed as joint- receivers The company employs about 300 people directly, with over 1,000 part-time and franchise contract positions also affected.
Stunned staff were told today that they would not be paid from now on and that they are not expected to attend work unless requested.
Local Independent councillor Aidan Mullins said on social media tonight: ‘Devastating news this evening for Portarlington, as Fastway Couriers is going into receivership.
‘A massive loss of jobs as I'm told by an employee that about 300 people in total work for the company. A meeting has been arranged by the company with the workers for tomorrow at 12 noon, when their position will become clearer, but the outlook seems bleak.’
Fastway delivers an estimated 25 million parcels a year and has 24 locations, including a head office in Dublin, 20 depots nationwide, two sortation hubs and the customer care centre in Portarlington.
The centre at Botley Lane in Portarlington specialises in personalised courier delivery and pick-up services for businesses. The local service area includes the greater mdlands region, including but not limited to Longford, Westmeath, Athlone, Kildare, Offaly, Tipperary and Mullingar.
In a statement, Nuvion said the business was no longer viable in its current form due to factors that include ‘sustained inflation, rising operating costs and intense price pressures in the parcels market’.
Delays and disruptions to deliveries are expected in the coming days, although the receivers said they would work with retailers to minimise the impact.
A spokesperson said that parcels already in the Fastway network are expected to be delivered ‘where possible’.
Fastway also operates Parcel Connect throughout Ireland, in partnership with over 1,300 Parcel Connect stores.
