"The price of justice is eternal publicity." Arnold Bennett
Intel Irish Leixlip Plant
| Intel's extension in doubt | Intel is de-moralizing | Employee is happy he left | Intel is disturbing lives | By Madeleine Lyons |
Our greetings to Former And Current Employees of Intel in Leixlip plant.
"Emerald isle, the little people make the most noise."
Owen
Intel Leixlip Plant
Leixlip plant is located in the town of Leixlip, a small town, which is about 14 miles to the west of Dublin.
Being so close to Dublin the area and its surroundings is fairly industrialized and Intel is a major employer in the region.
Tech downturn puts Intel's extension in doubt
Source: ireland.com (Irish Times)
By Cathal Hanley
Intel said today it is temporarily suspending construction of its $2 billion extension of its plant in Leixlip, Co Kildare.
Approximately 1,500 people are employed in the construction of the new facility called "FAB 24". This number will be cut to between 50 and 100 people from the end of this month.When the FAB 24 extension was announced in June 2000 it was initially slated to commence operations in late 2001 and create over 1,000 jobs. This date has now been pushed back to 2003.However due to the recent downturn in the technology sector, Intel has been forced to review the expansion.Mr Bill Riley, public affairs manager at Intel Ireland told ireland.com the company was still committed to the $2 billion investment but it will now be spread over a longer period."It is very disappointing to have to re-deploy construction people at this time however we expect to be able to welcome many of them back to our Leixlip site in 2002," Mr Riley added.
From a current Intel employee in Liexlip, Ireland.
I started to work at the Intel plant in Ireland late last year and up until then had no idea what type of company it actually is. Like others whose testimony is published on your site I was mislead and misrepresented by Intel initially too. I was interviewed and hired as an equipment tech. but when I started I was told I`d have to spend 1-2 years in the fab at process and basically if I was a good little boy I could have my equipment job later, they also reduced my wages by 1 scale.
I decided to stay a couple of months to see if I could talk to some-one and have this situation rectified. When I did not get satisfaction I handed my mandatory 1 months notice in and this was not received very well at all. Basically in IFO (Ireland Fab Operations) at the moment they cannot find people to work here and are currently in the middle of what would be equivalent to about a 1 million dollar advertising campaign to get new employees.
The fact that I could even think about leaving the almighty Intel was received with shock and amazement by my superiors. They tried everything to get me to stay and finally told me I could go for the equipment job but it could take a few months. I agreed to this as this was what I was fighting for.
Since this "agreement", I have been penalized in every way they could possibly. Without going into details as I`m still deciding on the best way of dealing with this at the moment, I just want to add my support to your cause and say that Intel is the most de-moralizing and depressive company I ever have had any dealings with. The whole focus crap is un-believable in this day and age, the only people who will ever get on at Intel are lick-arses and complete workaholics. The bonus system is a joke, they give the employees a percentage of the total profits minus any purchases (companies etc.), so even though this year was a record year for Intel the bonus worked out at less than last year.
Another story I`d like to share which shows the respect Intel (does not) have for their employees was when I started there were a bunch of people been sent to Phoenix to train for the upcoming 858 process, most of these people sold their cars and rented their houses and even some of their wives gave up their jobs to go for the 3 months of training they were supposed to go for. Two days before they were scheduled to go, Intel cancelled the trip and basically told the people involved that it was hard luck and they could lump it. Great for morale!
Keep up the needed work!
Thanx
anonymous employee.
From a former Intel employee in Ireland.
Dear sir/madam,
I am a former employee of Intel (thank God)- I would like to outline some of my experiences. I finished school and went to college to study electro-mechanical engineering and even achieved a distinction in that field !!! - I then was working in a technical job and was offered a job with Intel - they then employed me as an operator - what was college for ? and I'm not the only one (thankfully I'm now working in my chosen field.). I would rather not have my name printed - but with the content of this (otherwise) you may do what you like.
1)I graduated from college with a distinction in my chosen field of electronics - I received an Intel award while I was there. I had a 'natural ability' when it came to electronics etc.
2)I began employment with an Irish company after I applied to Intel. Eventually I was called for interview with Intel and was subsequently offered employment - which I accepted , I was to be an equipment tech.
3)After the initial orientation period I became aware of the fact that I was being slotted into an operator position. I voiced my opinion but was rejected.
4)During orientation period - one Friday evening, when we had officially finished our classes ,a number of us decided to turn on the TV in the library section (we were finished our classes) only to be approached by the "shift manager" we were all called to an office and a debate ensued with this manager as to whether we would be fired or not!! - I remind you that we were finished our training. We took our scolding and were told that we would be put on an extended probation period of 1 year which we were.
5)Training continued and I was slotted into my operators position - while there I took the 'bull by the horns' and decided that I was going to prove myself - I continuously encouraged our team - so that we would exceed targets - I had some procedures down to very short time. In short, I 'burst my chops' for Intel.
6)Then came the periodic 11 meeting with our supervisor and I was rated as needing improvement etc., etc. I voiced my opinion but was told "off the record" that this was due to the TV. incident. So back to the grind stone again - very disheartened.
7)A vendor run course on our fab machines was offered I took it and finished it with >95%.I continued operating - the next 11 with the supervisor and again the same story.- at this stage I felt targeted.
8)At this time we were aware of the error (floating point) on the Pentium (tm). We (as employees) were never filled in as to the exact nature of the problem. One morning on the way to work I heard over the radio on the news "thousands of jobs at risk in Intel Ireland plant". When I arrived to work there was a meeting called and the PR boys had there say. To think that I had to hear it on the radio first - what were we ? we worked for the company - why not call the meeting and explain before this ? It showed what the company thought of us!!
9)The whole area of CTD's (cumulative trauma disorders) unheard of until the company called a meeting and explained the whole area. Then bang overnight the whole place was suffering.2 people in our section were off work all of a sudden - I as well as others in the section continued on as normal (surprisingly unaffected by this CTD caper). Only to be downed once again at the next 11.While a CTD 'sufferer' continued to get glowing reports and reviews (without being present !!). At this stage enough was enough I was leaving.
10)We got a new supervisor in the area before I left and he realized the situation and he followed up etc. He realized what was ACTUALLY happening - I was asked to stay but sometimes enough is too much!!
11)I left and am currently working for a local industry - a place where I am appreciated, rewarded, listened to. I have not looked back since. This is only a basic outline of my Intel experiences, in reality it was hell. Only for the loyal friends I made there ......who knows what could have happened. I thank them - they know who they are.
FINALLY - the purpose of this is information - I don't hold any grudges, but if you are contemplating employment with Intel - I have to say be careful, while your experience with them may be better - you have a right to know how it COULD BE..
Thanks for your time.
Intel's bad faith is disturbing lives at Leixlip plant in Ireland
By: Colman Higgins Industrial Relations News Intel Transfers 700 Workers - Shift Changes Raise Potential Difficulties Further details on the transfer of over 700 employees from one plant to another within the Intel complex in Leixlip, Co. Kildare, were expected to be announced this week.
The transfer is roughly estimated to cause significant changes in shift patterns for about 200-300 of the 700, and while some may see increased earnings with more night work, others are likely to see losses in earnings.
The non-union multinational, which employs over 4,000 in Ireland, told its workers last week that it recognized that the proposed transition would be "disruptive", and said it would give its workers "maximum support" to help them through it.
There have been reports of discontent among the workers involved, although part of this may be due to the uncertainty surrounding the actual number of those who may be adversely affected by the changes in shift pattern.
Loss of Earnings?
When the issue of compensation for loss of earnings - or voluntary redundancy for those unwilling to transfer - was put to a company spokesman, he declined to comment, saying that any information on those and any other issues in relation to the transfer had to be communicated to the employees first.
The transfer is coming about through the combination of the closure of the test, assembly and packaging plant at Leixlip and a need for more workers at the main chip fabrication plant, due to major new investment there. As a result, there are to be no compulsory redundancies. The test, assembly and packaging work is to be moved outside Ireland, to a location as yet to be decided, which could be the Far East.
The ‘ramping down to zero’, as the company describes the closure, is expected to take place on a phased basis over an 18-month period between now and the final quarter of next year, although it is not known yet if the bulk of the workers will be transferred in the early or late part of this period.
The new jobs at the fabrication plant are the result of a further investment programmed there, which is understood to involve spending £300 million to move the plant towards more sophisticated microchip technology.
Night Work:
Currently the 700 workers in test and assembly are divided into three categories - those on permanent night work, permanent day work and those on day work with occasional night work. The main fabrication plant has rotating shifts, which means that those on permanent nights may lose out on at least some of the night work premium.
Just as significant is the fact that many of these would have built a lifestyle around permanent night work, as this pattern left them free during the day for college courses or looking after their families. If a voluntary redundancy package is made available, there could be a significant demand from this group.
A company spokesman said that a "transition group" had been set up in recent weeks to manage the transfer of the 700 from test and assembly to the fabrication area. All information regarding the situation would be communicated to the employees as soon as it became available, he said.
The assembly and test plant is in fact the original Intel plant in Ireland that was set up in 1990, with the fabrication area which now dwarfs it having developed since then. As a result, it would have some of the workers with the longest service in Intel’s Irish operation. The plant originally produced motherboards, and moved to assembly and test in the past year or so.
Union Members:
While the company does not recognize trade unions, a SIPTU spokesman confirmed that the union does have a number of workers at the plant in private membership. He was reluctant to reveal the number of members it had, or what areas they were employed in, in order to protect their privacy.
IRN has been told by the Kildare and Leixlip branch of the union that no Intel workers are members of that particular branch, so it is not inconceivable that the union’s Intel members have a some other institutional arrangement with the union.
There were angry scenes and tears at Intel's assembly plant in Leixlip yesterday, as workers were briefed on the company's restructuring plans. Under the new arrangement, assembly operations - where 750 people are employed - will gradually be phased out and workers will be re-deployed to a new production process.
Workers were initially told the change would take place within the next 12 months, but it has now emerged the process will begin in a matter of weeks. Under the new plan, workers will be required to change from a fixed pattern of either day or night shifts to a mix of day and night shifts in which they will initially work four nights, followed by four days for a six-month period.
Industry sources have said those affected will receive no extra pay apart from the standard night work premium. Workers have also been told that if the new arrangement does not suit them, they will have to leave the company without redundancy payment.
All of the 750 workers have been with Intel at least four-and-ahalf years, and a significant proportion are mothers. According to one source close to the company "People are just stunned because it's a whole change of life. People have their entire lives planned around the fixed shifts, only to be told either go on the new rota or tough."
Intel workers are now understood to be seeking official advice on their position. Although the company does not recognize unions, it has a number of SIPTU members among its workforce. One industry source says Intel has put the workers in an impossible position, and they would welcome the intervention of the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Ms Harney, to put the employees' case forward.
A spokesman for Intel said it recognized there would be change in shift patterns, and a "transition team" would be set up to manage the transfer process beginning next week. "Where people identify they will be unable to make the transition, they have been encouraged to talk to their supervisor about their position," he said. "We have 18 months to work this all out."
He refused to comment on the issue of redundancy or remuneration, only to say there will be a one-to-one transfer of jobs within the same grade.
Intel is one of the largest employers in the country, currently employing 4,100 people. It is investing £300 million (euro 380.92 million) in the shift to more sophisticated microchip technology which will allow it to produce greater volumes of higher-performance chips at lower cost. It is expected to reach the market next year.
