Ireland“s Labour Relations Commission has begun its attempts to resolve the grievances of workers losing their jobs at Waterford Crystal.
A process being overseen by ICTU president David Begg and se…
Ireland“s Labour Relations Commission has begun its attempts to resolve the grievances of workers losing their jobs at Waterford Crystal. A process being overseen by ICTU president David Begg and secretary to the Department of the Taoiseach (prime minister) Dermot McCarthy got under way on 9 March 2009. It will examine redundancy payments, job losses and pension rights, which have been among the main concerns of employees at the world-famous crystal plant since Waterford Wedgwood went into receivership in January 2009. A sit-in staged by staff since production stopped at the factory entered its sixth week on 9 March 2009 and Unite, the trade union which represents the majority of workers, on 8 March criticised the government for not securing pensions. Meanwhile, a consortium of local businesspeople in Waterford, led by Nicky Fewer of Waterford Regional Airport, is in discussions with KPS about maintaining crystal making in Waterford. The receiver to Waterford Wedgwood, David Carson of Deloitte, announced the sale of some of the group“s business interests and assets to KPS Capital 10 days previously. However, it soon emerged that the manufacturing plant at Waterford Crystal was not part of the deal.