Waterford Crystal ready to axe 280 jobs

Glass making at Ireland’s world renowned Waterford Crystal factory is being brought to a virtual standstill, it emerged tonight.

Workers at the flagship plant are to meet management tomorrow when plans for around 280 redundancies will be detailed.

Angry workers criticised the proposal and believe it will turn the factory, which already takes in 300,000 visitors a year, into a 'crystal theme park'.

It is the second massive jobs blow for the prestigious company after almost 500 posts were axed last November – although 200 of those redundancies have not been taken up.

Trade union Unite said it was shocked and disappointed at the latest blow.

Union spokesman Walter Cullen said officials would discuss the plans with management and members.

“Discussions between Unite and management will once again take place on a strategy on what might be possible to save in real manufacturing in Waterford and to maintain a brand which is arguably Ireland’s most iconic,” he said.

Troubled by falling sales, rising costs and the weak US dollar, Waterford Crystal has looked to outsource glass making with a large amount of manufacturing moved to Slovenia.

If the cost-saving plan goes ahead 125 staff will stay on in Kilbarry but only 70 in manufacturing and the rest dealing with administration and the strong tourism business.

At its height in 1987 Waterford Crystal employed 3,500 staff across the south-east, with the majority of workers in highly skilled, well paid jobs.

Waterford-branded sets of lead crystal and glassware are now made in eastern Europe and Brazil, while ceramics and china from the Wedgwood parent company are produced in Indonesia.

The company has embarked on an extensive fundraising plan this year to protect the future of its Irish operations. But after 30 meetings with potential investors over the last three weeks only €79m of a required €101m package has been secured.