Waterford Crystal announce 234 job cuts

WATERFORD Crystal says the 234 job cuts announced yesterday are critical to guarantee the competitiveness of its Irish operations and to safeguard the remaining 1,400 jobs at its plants in Kilbarry, Waterford city and Dungarvan.

Among those to lose their jobs are 129 temporary employees whose contracts range from one to six years. The company is also looking for 105 voluntary redundancies from its permanent staff in its manufacturing, management and support services. And it cannot rule out more cuts.

But most controversial is a proposed pay freeze and the non-payment of salary increases promised under the national pay deal. Paying that increase would cost the company 5 million and it can't afford such a cost in the existing, competitive market, according to chief executive officer John Foley.