Factory puts 120 workers on protective notice

FEARS are growing for the future of one of Waterford’s longest-established manufacturing plants after 120 of its workers were put on protective notice yesterday.

Waterford Stanley issued the notice to two-thirds of its staff, as a row intensified over a proposed relocation allowance of €2,300 sought by workers.

The new plant is three miles away from the existing manufacturing site.

The issue was debated at the Labour Relations Commission this week, but no mutual resolution was found. It was hoped the matter could go on to the Labour Court.

The company issued the protective notice yesterday after workers had balloted, and decided to go to the Labour Court on the sole issue of the relocation allowance. The company wanted other issues on the agenda, in particular the implementation of a three-cycle shift working.

The company, in a notice erected at the site, said shift working was essential at the new plant.

The notice said: “As clarified from the outset, the company will not pay relocation payments to secure the factory workers’ own jobs at significantly improved facilities to be provided at the new factory.”

The company also claimed it had offered “generous productivity based gain sharing remuneration increases” to all factory workers at the new site.

“The factory workforce have not given consideration to, or voted on, these generous proposals.

“In the light of these facts and, as a direct consequence of the imminent undermining of the viability of the new factory investment project, the company formally confirms the issuing of protective notice to all factory manufacturing employees.”

Even if manufacturing was to cease in Waterford, the company said that sales, marketing and other Waterford Stanley support services would remain in Ireland.

The market for Waterford Stanley’s products is buoyant and the payroll at the plant tops €5 million annually.

The company previously pointed out that cookers and stoves manufactured elsewhere can be delivered to Waterford at a 35% cost saving.

However, a union source told local radio station WLR FM there is hope a resolution could be found at talks due to continue at the LRC on Monday.