Waterford Crystal workers stage sit-in over closure

OVER 200 Waterford Crystal workers last night pledged to continue a sit-in at the plant in the city after the receiver who has been running the business for a month announced that he was shutting down manufacturing there.

Yesterday afternoon, David Carson, the receiver appointed by its banks to the Waterford Wedgwood group a month ago, wrote to workers saying that manufacturing there would cease immediately.

The move means that 480 of the facility’s 708-strong workforce will lose their jobs. Over 200 staff there began a sit-in at the Kilbarry, Waterford site yesterday in the wake of his announcement.

They last night welcomed the news that trade union leaders and senior civil servants are hoping to organise a meeting today with Mr Carson in a bid to get him to reverse his decision to close the troubled plant.

Unite secretary for Ireland Jimmy Kelly said David Begg of Ictu and secretary of the Department of the Taoiseach, Dermot McCarthy, are hoping to meet Mr Carson in Dublin today in a bid to get him to reverse his decision and keep the plant open.

Mr Kelly said the willingness of the Government to remain involved in the process was very encouraging and Unite, which represents over 90 per cent of the workforce at Waterford Crystal, will call a mass meeting of all workers again on Sunday to brief them on developments.

In a statement earlier, Unite said the protest would continue until Mr Carson reverses his decision to shut down manufacturing.

Regional organiser Walter Cullen pointed out that Mr Carson has been in talks with two potential buyers, US-based investors, KPS Capital and Clarion Capital. He pointed out that the receiver had said he would consult workers and the union before taking a step such as yesterday’s.

“We have been in talks with the Government and the Ictu over the last four weeks since the receiver was appointed,” he said. “We had been given verbal assurance by the receiver that everything would be done to maintain the plant as a going concern to keep hope alive.”

A spokesman for the receiver said he has been in regular consultations with the union since he was appointed. Over 200 staff will continue working in areas such as customer service and logistics. Its on-site showroom was shut yesterday, but Mr Carson said this would be temporary.

About 10 per cent of manufacturing workers have been kept on to maintain its furnace, which is central to the production of crystal.

In his statement, Mr Carson said, “the decision to cease manufacturing does not necessarily preclude a resumption of operations in Waterford in the future”.

He added that talks were continuing with interested parties with a view to a sale of the company’s assets and those discussions are focused on agreeing the terms upon which a transaction could be completed.

Angry scenes greeted the news that the plant was closing. Workers attempted to enter its visitors’ centre and occupy it and scuffled with four security men. It is understood that one was knocked against a glass panel in the main door which shattered. But calm was quickly restored and workers began their sit in.