TD criticised for jobs cuts comments

A WATERFORD TD who urged those mourning the loss of 485 jobs at crystal plants to shrug off the losses and “start living in the real world” just days after the cuts were announced has been criticised by union officials for his remarks.

But yesterday, Fianna Fail’s Oliver Wilkinson hit back at union bosses at Waterford Crystal, saying they didn’t raise their voices until the cuts were announced. Just three days after the jobs blow was announced, the West Waterford TD went on WLR FM, where he urged the people impacted by the cuts to get over it.

“I can understand where the unions are coming from,” he said in the interview. “We hear exactly the same story after every closure. What happens is the closures go ahead.

“For those of us who live in the real world and have to try and pick up the pieces, the job is to move ahead and try and get replacement industry,” he added. ATGWU regional industrial organiser Jimmy Kelly criticised the remarks. “Mr Wilkinson has insinuated that our members in Dungarvan and Waterford are not living in the real world. Such comments are unhelpful in our negotiations,” said Mr Kelly.

Mr Wilkinson hit back, accusing the union of waiting for the cuts to be announced, before getting off the starting blocks. “The dogs on the streets knew that cuts were coming at Waterford Crystal. The management; the county council; the VEC and other groups were on to me before these cuts.

“It is extraordinary that there was not one word from any one of the union representatives, even though I am the government TD for the area. I seriously question the union’s sincerity in the whole matter and I have grave concerns about the way workers are being represented and are being looked after.”

Councillor Tom Higgins, FG, said the cuts in Dungarvan are far too big a blow for the town to carry. He suggests the company look again at the cuts and might find work for those displaced in Dungarvan at the Waterford plant.

“Four-hundred jobs mean a lot more to Dungarvan than 100 jobs in Waterford city. Why not go more pro-rata?

“In these days of easy commuting, there is no reason why job losses could be divided out more evenly to give Dungarvan some chance,” he added.