Staff protest over Waterford Crystal closure

[Ringo]

Regretfully. It was only a matter of time.


There have been angry scenes at the Waterford Crystal plant in Kilbarry after staff were told the company is shutting down.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0130/wedgwood.html

[pete]

What is the purpose of that? The closure of Waterford Wedgewood has been on the cards for years.

[Ringo]

in fairness most of the people involved are not going to find work outside the business they know. They've worked there all there lives.

[Ash]

in fairness most of the people involved are not going to find work outside the business they know. They've worked there all there lives.

True, but I cant see a "sit-in" is going to change the closure of the company?

[pete]

True, but I cant see a "sit-in" is going to change the closure of the company?

In the news clips I see a poster from i think the Socialist Party with something like "if the government can bail out the banks why can't they bail out Waterford Crystal". While their willingness to assist the banks with virtually open cheques needs to be questioned bailing out Waterford Crystal would mean unfair not to bail out other businesses. The state already borrows 54m a week just to meet current costs & bailing out every troubled business would bankrupt the country.

[charliesboots]

The primary reasons for the workers taking control of the factory are:

1. To protest at not being consulted by the Receiver in relation to the closing of the factory: and probably more importantly

2. To keep the factory working. If some of the machinery shuts down operations it becomes virtually useless and would need to be replaced or repaired at a cost running into millions. If a buyer intendedon keeping the Waterford plant going then they undoubtedly be deterred if they inherited this unnecessary expenditure.

[jebus]

Whilst I think the workers were treated very poorly (recieving the news by text) I don't think these sit downs are going to do them any favours, especially if they start heckling and confronting politicians

[pete]

Staff Enter Deloitte HQ in Dublin (http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0203/breaking38.htm)

Can't see what harrassing the receptionists will achieve. I can't see how it encourages new investors to take on the company.

[Ringo]

The primary reasons for the workers taking control of the factory are:

1. To protest at not being consulted by the Receiver in relation to the closing of the factory: and probably more importantly

2. To keep the factory working. If some of the machinery shuts down operations it becomes virtually useless and would need to be replaced or repaired at a cost running into millions. If a buyer intendedon keeping the Waterford plant going then they undoubtedly be deterred if they inherited this unnecessary expenditure.


The problem they have is they probably have enough stock for about four years so they don't want/need the high cost manufacturing.