Waterford Crystal denies jobs are to go

MANAGEMENT and unions at Waterford Crystal have denied a local newspaper claim that up to 500 jobs are to go at its plant in Kilbarry on the edge of Waterford city.

The Munster Express yesterday reported that the redundancies are imminent.

Waterford Crystal closed its Dungarvan plant last year with the loss of 390 jobs.

The paper suggested that Waterford Crystal's parent company, Waterford Wedgwood, is drawing up contingency plans which would include cutting the workforce of 900 in Waterford by over half.

The Munster Express also suggests that group chief executive, Peter Cameron, is supportive of the cuts.

But a company spokesman said: "This is purely speculative. There are no plans whatsoever for redundancies at Waterford Crystal."

Union spokesman Jimmy Kelly also denied that there are any planned cuts.

"The ATGWU has a very good relationship with the company. I want to assure each and every employee and member of our union that no such proposal is under consideration.

"When such a proposal does emerge, if it does emerge, we will meet with the management and we will discuss it."