Bausch & Lomb staff face job losses

More than 160 workers at a Waterford City-based pharmaceutical giant are in danger of losing their jobs before Christmas because of a new dispute over pay which, the firm says, poses “serious threats” to the future of the entire plant.

Management at Bausch & Lomb, which employs 1,250 people at its Waterford manufacturing facility, have warned staff if they go ahead with a proposed industrial action they will lay off 54 staff and issue protective notice to a further 110.

The moves will be made after December 16 and will also see the US-owned firm abandoning plans to open new manufacturing lines which would have seen a further 50 employees taken on and discontinuing moves to transfer 70 staff to new shift arrangements.

The threats were issued in a letter to staff yesterday signed by vice-president for manufacturing and supply chain (contact lenses) Damain Finn and vice-president for manufacturing and supply chain in the US, Angelo Conti.

Speculation is also likely to build about the plant’s long-term future, given the threat of closure in mid-2014 when the last dispute arose over pay.

The current issue follows Siptu demands for pay restoration to pre-2014 levels and a vote in favour of industrial action in Waterford.

Siptu said the campaign of “limited industrial action”, due to start on December 21, will comprise a series of one-hour work stoppages by each shift and an overtime ban.

“This dispute has arisen because of a failure by management to agree for the full restoration of the pay and conditions of employment of our members,” union organiser Allen Dillon said.

Siptu said that since a two-year pay freeze expired, it has engaged in “intensive negotiations” with the company to try and achieve full pay restoration, while a Labour Court recommendation issued in August was “overwhelmingly rejected” by members.

“With the collective dispute resolution procedures exhausted and no further engagement by management on the issues in dispute, our members feel they have no option,” Mr Dillon said.

It’s understood that Siptu members at the plant voted by 473 votes to 174 in favour of strike last week.

“At a time of political uncertainty in both the United States and Europe, nobody in the company wants to see a return to the uncertainty about the future that existed in 2014,” the company said in its letter to staff.

The company accused Siptu of rejecting WRC and Labour Court recommendations and said it will not be considering calls for ‘full restoration’ at this will pose serious threats to the future of the plant.