Support the Waterford Crystal occupation!

[Papa C.]

Solidarity Needed For Waterford Crystal Workers!

Around 100 Waterford Crystal employees are staging an unofficial sit-in at their factory's visitors' centre tonight. Earlier today workers representatives have been on the radio stating their position and are refusing to leave.

On tonight's evening news they had told of angry scenes at the Kilbarry plant as the wildcat action took place to occupy the visitors centre, security guards fought with workers.

Deloitte representatives had earlier confirmed, by phone, that 480 of the 670 employees have been made redundant.

This scandalous maneuver by the bosses at Waterford Crystal can only but fuel anger felt by workers, their families and the community who have rallied in support of their workplace occupation.

An Injury to One, Is An Injury to All!

www.indymedia.ie/article/90898
www.rte.ie/news/2009/0130/wedgwood.html

[Papa C.]

Monday February 02 2009

Workers at Waterford Crystal are supporting a bid for the company made by Clarion Capital.

The American private-equity firm is one of two US-based consortiums that have tabled offers for the troubled Irish company.

Clarion's bid could retain around 300 jobs at the Waterford Crystal plant in Kilbarry, while the other bidder - KPS Capital Partners - is apparently only interested in buying the brand name.

Workers at the Kilbarry plant have been staging a sit-in protest since the administrator overseeing the company announced the halting of manufacturing operations on Friday.

Their union representative, Walter Cullen from Unite, says the workers are happy to discuss the Clarion bid and believe the Government should nationalise Waterford Crystal rather than let the KPS bid be accepted.