Protest goes on as staff hope for buyer

WATERFORD Crystal workers have spent a fourth night occupying the company’s visitors centre in Kilbarry waiting for news of whether 300 jobs will be saved by a new buyer.

The company’s receiver spent the day talking with the union’s preferred bidder, Clarion Capital, fronted by the company’s former chief executive John Foley.

That US-based consortium has indicated it will keep the factory open and conserve a large proportion of the staff. However, another bidder KPS is only prepared to keep the brand.

Staff have maintained a presence at the visitor centre since Friday. They are protesting at the decision by Waterford Wedgwood’s receiver, Deloitte, to close operations on the basis that 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.

UNITE trade union, which represents workers at the plant, said there was disappointment at comments that the sit-in was reflecting poorly on Ireland.

“These workers feel passionately about their jobs as something more than filling a shift,” said Walter Cullen, regional organiser. “They have conducted themselves throughout with dignity and respect for the property.

“It is a shame such respect was not shown by the receiver when he chose to close the plant and proceeded to advise people by a lottery of letters whether they had a job to go to today.

“Those who are concerned about the image of Ireland might look more to the events surrounding some of our financial institutions rather than events in the south east as a cause for greater concern.”

The Waterford Trades Council said there is a rally planned in support of the workers in the city tomorrow.

The workers’ pension shortfall was also discussed as part of the economic recovery talks at Government Buildings yesterday.

“It should have happened before now, but at least the meltdown of Irish pensions is now being addressed in a meaningful manner and we are hopeful of a positive outcome,” said local regional secretary Jimmy Kelly.

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 for a number of reasons, most notably competition from Asian rivals and by the dollar’s drop against the euro.