WATERFORD CRYSTAL workers yesterday voted unanimously to continue with their occupation of part of the plant as they called on the Government to provide financial and other assistance to a firm of US investors bidding to buy the troubled company and retain manufacturing at the Waterford site.
Up to 800 current and former workers gathered yesterday for a two-and-a-half-hour meeting at the Waterford Crystal visitors’ centre where leaders of trade union Unite, which represents over 90 per cent of the workforce, briefed them on high-level discussions with trade union leaders, government civil servants and the receiver, David Carson, on Saturday evening.
Following that meeting involving Ictu general secretary David Begg and Dermot McCarthy, secretary at the Department of the Taoiseach, Mr Carson issued a statement yesterday morning in which he said that he would not reverse his decision made on Friday to make over 480 workers at the plant redundant.
Unite regional secretary for Ireland Jimmy Kelly confirmed that Clarion Capital, which includes former Waterford Crystal chief executive John Foley, had tabled a bid for the company and the union would be engaging with Clarion as soon as possible to discuss the proposal and how it can be supported.
Mr Kelly said the union would be seeking support from the Government including a financial package up to €30 million to ensure that workers’ redundancy and pension entitlements that are not met by Clarion as part of its proposal are still honoured and fulfilled.
While Mr Kelly was unable to say how many jobs would be retained at the Kilbarry plant or what amount Clarion had bid for the company on Saturday night, it is believed that around 300 jobs would be retained in manufacturing, leaving close to 200 manufacturing staff facing redundancy.
“We would expect the Government to be very supportive financially in terms what sort of grants are available . . . you can imagine in any town in Ireland if there was a taskforce set up after a closure and somebody came knocking at the door with so many hundred jobs, they would be given the money to set it up.
“We’re saying now that protecting 300 jobs here or whatever the final figure is must be given the financial support that is necessary and we also expect the Government to come forward with finance in terms of the workers entitlements under agreements that existed here,” he said.
Mr Kelly said that the financial package, which would total not more than €30 million, would also include pension provision as the union had taken legal advice that the Government was liable for pensions for retired workers as a result of not implementing a pension protection initiative introduced in other EU countries.
“We’re estimating €30 million max and that sorts out everything – it’s not earth shattering – we think it’s a small figure in terms of what the Government has done with banks and the €180 million given to farmers so in that context, we expect Government support.”
Mr Kelly pointed out the deal could be worked out in the context of the social partnership talks as the Government will have to recognise the need for assistance for Irish manufacturing in the current round of talks given the changed climate from when the last national pay agreement was concluded.
Asked what leverage the Waterford Crystal workers would have at the pay talks, Mr Kelly said the involvement of Mr Begg and Mr McCarthy in discussions since the company went into receivership on January 7th was encouraging for workers who were initially very disappointed at Mr Carson’s refusal to reverse his redundancy decision. Mr Kelly said the workforce was “very solidly united” on its approach to the crisis.
He added that prospective purchasers should see the continuing occupation of the plant as a statement of the workers’ commitment to ensuring that the plant was retained as a viable manufacturing facility.
Meanwhile, the occupying workers continue to draw huge support from business interests and fellow workers in Waterford, with several businesses sending out food and water supplies. Some families also visited the centre yesterday to deliver sandwiches, pastries and other food.