More talks due as factory sit-in continues

Union officials will hold a meeting with their members today as scores of workers continue to occupy the Waterford Crystal factory after talks on the future of the plant ended without resolution.

Current and former employees have been protesting inside the factory's visitors' centre since Friday when they heard that more than half of the 670-strong workforce were to be made redundant and operations were to halt until a buyer is found.

The world famous crystal maker at Kilbarry outside Waterford went into receivership at the start of the month.

Union representatives met with Government officials and the receiver David Carson for crunch talks in Dublin yesterday evening.

Mr Carson is currently in negotiations with two US-based consortiums in a bid to save parts of the business.

He has not ruled out reopening the plant if a buyer is found but unions want operations to continue while the negotiations with the would-be investors are ongoing.

A spokesman for Mr Carson said that during the meeting he made clear he had no choice but to close the plant.

"The receiver reaffirmed that he had no option but to cease manufacturing in Waterford given that the monies he had borrowed to continue manufacturing were now spent," he said.

"He, of course, recognises that the situation is difficult for the employees concerned but has to deal with matters within the context of his legal role and responsibilities.

"He anticipates an early conclusion to negotiations with those parties who are interested in acquiring the companies' assets."

Secretary general of the Department of the Taoiseach, Dermot McCarthy, attended the meeting along with Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) general secretary David Begg and officials from the Unite union, which represents 90% of the workforce.

A spokesman for Unite described the meeting as tough.

"The one consolation is that the parties interested in buying the factory seem to remain interested," he said yesterday.

"Unite officials will now reflect on what needs to be done to maintain that interest. They will address the members in Waterford tomorrow afternoon.

"The protest will go on in the meantime."

Former Waterford Crystal chief executive John Foley is part of one of the consortiums hoping to make a new bid for the company.

Workers are occupying the plant on a shift basis and have maintained a presence of more than 100 since they first stormed the building on Friday amid scuffles with security guards.

Local shops have been supplying them with food and drink while blankets and sleeping bags have also been brought inside.

Martin Skelton, who took redundancy last year after more than 40 years with the company, joined his former colleagues for the sit-in protest.

"I nearly died when I heard the news, I was totally shocked," said the 57-year-old.

"I came straight down here. My family have come from all across the country to support us. My grandchildren were in with us too.

"I gave 41 years' service and when I took redundancy I got some of that money but now it looks like I won't be getting anything else.

"We're not moving unless something is sorted out.

"Everyone is determined and there's a great spirit. We've food from all the local shops - it's coming in by the lorry load. Nobody is moving. We're determined to stay.

"We have to stay in the showrooms. If we leave the doors would be locked behind us so we're not moving."

Earlier a crowd of around 2,000 people braved horrendous weather to attend a rally in support of the workers outside the plant.