280 jobs to go at Waterford Crystal

About 280 jobs are to go at the Waterford Crystal factory, the company confirmed today.

The massive cutbacks will bring glass-making to a virtual standstill in Waterford after the renowned Irish brand left almost 500 workers go last November.

But Waterford Crystal chief executive officer John Foley insisted the company was committed to keeping the Kilbarry plant in the south east of the country open.

Mr Foley said: “We regret the necessity of ending large-scale manufacturing in Waterford, but we reaffirm our commitment to the city.

“We will retain highly skilled workers, our tourist trail, as well as our gallery staff, who together service one of Ireland’s premier visitor attractions.

“The company is proud of its heritage. The city of Waterford remains its home.”

It is understood 125 staff will stay on at the Kilbarry plant, 70 in manufacturing and 55 dealing with administration and tourism.

Trade Union Unite said its members and people across Waterford were shocked by the job cuts.

Walter Cullen, Unite regional organiser, said: “Fine words about the importance of the area to the brand are of little comfort to staff who have, through generations of craftsmanship, built that brand into the iconic status it holds today.

“That they will now seemingly be cast aside and production moved to just another factory is devastating.”

The union said it would strive to find an alternative to the cost-cutting plans.

“Waterford Crystal is too important to the workers, to the city and to the nation as a whole to let it slide away.”