A whole community devastated

Neans McSweeney, Dungarvan

After the workers passed reluctantly over the steps of Lawlor's Hotel to a meeting with management, the media waited for news outside. They didn't have to wait long one disgruntled worker burst from the meeting, anxious for a cigarette after hearing the news. Three hundred and ninety people were to lose their jobs in Dungarvan, and a further 95 at the city plant in Waterford.

The devastation will affect the whole community. The Waterford Crystal wage into Dungarvan alone is in the region of E10m, according to local chamber of commerce vice president, Shay Harty.

"With four service jobs gone for every industry job at Waterford Crystal, it's a very black day for Dungarvan. In real terms, we're looking at a loss of around 1,600 jobs in this region.

"A lot of local people will suffer, not just the 390 direct jobs. The IDA need a back-up plan for this region. A hi-tech industry should have been pushed for this area the dogs on the street knew that the plant was in trouble for quite some time.

"Micheál Martin needs to come down here and needs to bring something for this area. Other places have got hi-tech industries, so why not Dungarvan. The workers feel betrayed and let down. We need to have a task force for the area. The IDA should have had a back-up plan for this area.

"Fianna Fáil have promised us that the Ordinance Survey Service will be decentralised here. Where is that now? We have a young, vibrant, educated population and we need jobs here now," he said.

"The next year or two will be very hard. But we've rallied after disappointment in the past," he said. "Waterford Foods closed down and we got over that. People will have to dig in their heels and grit their teeth. Thirty years of blood, sweat and tears have gone into Waterford Crystal here in Dungarvan. We anticipated cuts but today's announcement has been one hell of a shock."

It is now imperative that Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin meet local politicians and business leaders to see what can be rescued from the ashes, according to local Fine Gael town and county councillor Damien Goeghegan.

"We are demanding answers now. We have a cabinet minister in this constituency and its about time he delivered for us. We will be putting the pressure now on Martin Cullen. We will also be putting the pressure on Micheal Martin to come down here with something for the people of West Waterford.

"Its an absolutely black day for Dungarvan. It'll be difficult for anyone to soak up 400 jobs. They will be very difficult to replace. We've seen a lot of job losses in the past. Back in the 80s, we saw over 200 jobs go at Irish Leathers. Then there were the cuts of over 200 at Pfizers. Then in 1998, Glanbia let go 220. There's a big, black hole here."

The onus is now very firmly on the government to deliver for Waterford, he said. "Job losses here in the past have been cushioned because we had Waterford Crystal. But we don't have it anymore.

"The ball is now with the Government and we need to see action from Micheál Martin."

Fine Gael Deputy Mayor Fred Forsey is a former employee of Waterford Crystal and said he knows the vast majority of all 390 staff losing their jobs. "We don't have an industry here in Dungarvan capable of soaking up those 400 jobs.

"It's absolutely devastating for these people, for their families and for Dungarvan. We had hoped that the company would keep its staff up to date on what's happening. But obviously they didn't. A lot of couples in there have mortgages and young kids. They have given their lives to the company. Where do they go now," he said.