Plant’s workers on 3-day week

ABOUT half of the workforce at a stove manufacturing plant in Waterford will be put on short notice within days.

Waterford Stanley Ltd, which has been manufacturing range cookers in the city since 1934, yesterday confirmed it is planning to put its “manufacturing employees on short-time working in the next week”.

The company employs 150 people at its plant on the industrial estate in the city.

Current market conditions dictated a three-day week during the heating off-season, according to a spokesman. The decision is necessary in order to “rebalance manufacturing capacity with market demands for the company’s cookers and stoves”, it emerged yesterday.

“We regret it has been necessary to take this action but we hope it is a temporary measure and that we will be in a position to resume full-time working when market conditions improve,” added the spokesman.

“We will remain inclose communication with our employees and will keep them informed of all relevant developments.”