No problem, you may want to check the 'You're redundant' thread you may get an idea as to the situation in the 26 counties.
I though an Irish socialist such as yourself would be shouting it from the rooftops. Where to start, well it is certainly one of the best things to happen in Irish politics in years. Basically after being sacked by Text message. 300 of the 500 Waterford Crystal employess have occupied the factory and refuse to leave until they are garenteed their jobs back, not redundancy their jobs