EFFORTS TO save at least 300 jobs at Waterford Crystal are to continue today as workers maintain a sit-in at the plant.
A meeting attended by up to 800 present and former workers at the Kilbarry factory concluded yesterday with a unanimous vote to continue the sit-in begun on Friday when the company’s receiver announced he was ceasing manufacturing immediately.
More than 700 workers were employed at the plant until Friday, 480 of them in manufacturing.
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and local TD Martin Cullen said yesterday that Clarion Investments, a US-based group, had submitted a fresh bid for the company on Saturday night.
The bid envisaged that the company would continue to manufacture its high-quality “stem line” of crystal products in the factory in addition to new lines of crystal ware.
It is understood that of the 300 jobs that would be retained at the plant, at least 200 would be in manufacturing.
The Clarion consortium, of which former Waterford Crystal chief executive John Foley is a member, is one of two prospective buyers for the plant. The other to have announced its interest is KPS Capital.
Mr Cullen told The Irish Timesthat both he and Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, who is Minister for Enterprise, had met both prospective buyers. "The Government has been very engaged on this since the original announcement of receivership was made... it is clear that there is still a huge importance attached to the brand. It's one of the top five brands worldwide," he said.
Yesterday’s meeting of workers followed a rally at the plant on Saturday, in support of the workers, in which an estimated 2,000 people participated.
The receiver, David Carson, met the Secretary General of the Government Dermot McCarthy and Irish Congress of Trade Unions general secretary David Begg, as well as union representatives, in Dublin on Saturday. In a statement issued after the meeting, the receiver said he had no option but to cease manufacturing in Waterford given that the monies he had borrowed to continue manufacturing were now spent. He anticipated an early conclusion to negotiations with the parties who are interested in acquiring the companies’ assets.
Mr Cullen said yesterday he did not want to raise any false expectations but remained hopeful. The Government and State agencies were on standby and were prepared to offer all possible assistance to any company that was prepared to commit to a future for the plant and centre in Waterford. “It’s reasonable to look upon it as you would a new company that can avail of the support of Enterprise Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.” He said the visitors centre was capable of doubling its numbers of visitors from 350,000 to 700,000 a year.
Workers staging a sit-in at the plant have been operating a rota system with up to 100 people remaining in the plant at any given time.