Crystal staff continue sit-in for third night

WATERFORD Crystal workers last night spent a third night occupying the Kilbarry plant in the hope that a bid from a US private equity firm, Clarion Capital, could save 480 jobs.

Staff have maintained a presence at the company’s visitor centre since Friday and 60 stayed there last night. A further 140 were expected to join them this morning.

They are protesting at the decision by Waterford Wedgwood’s receiver, Deloitte, to close down operations on the basis monies borrowed to continue manufacturing were now spent.

That announcement resulted in angry and violent clashes on Friday between staff and security personnel brought in by the receiver.

The workers were particularly angry as unions claimed they had been told they would be consulted before there was any closure.

At that point workers knew there were two potential bidders willing to take on the operation and stop crystal manufacturing ending in Waterford after 200 years.

On Saturday night the workers were given encouragement when news filtered through that one of those bidders, Clarion Capital, had lodged a bid which could potentially save the manufacturing base and the workers’ jobs.

Speaking on RTÉ, local TD and Tourism Minister Martin Cullen said the bid was substantial before adding the Government wanted to maintain the Waterford brand in Ireland and stood ready through the state agencies to invest in the company.

Last night worker members of UNITE trade union met at the Kilbarry plant and agreed to continue their protest.

They said they would also welcome the 200 workers asked by the receiver to return to work today to maintain the furnaces in advance of any successful bid.

“The spirit of the workers, and those who have given us unstinting support, has been magnificent,” said UNITE regional organiser Walter Cullen. “There is too much life and too much of a future for the plant to be put to the sword as the receiver attempted to do on Friday and Saturday by announcing the closure.”

The union’s regional secretary Jimmy Kelly said workers were encouraged by the Clarion Capital bid.

“They have lodged their bid and have outlined their plans to us of keeping manufacturing in the city and protecting the immediate livelihood of hundreds of workers, and the future prospect for hundreds and thousands more.”

Waterford Crystal employed 3,200 people in the county during its boom period in the 1980s.

However, in recent years its staff numbers have dropped rapidly as demand has declined, most notably competition from Asian rivals, and also by the dollar’s drop against the euro, which has seen its biggest client base less likely to spend money on luxury items.