INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-IRELAND:

WATERFORD CRYSTAL FACTORY OCCUPATION ENDS:

As the following article from the Irish Times says, the occupation of the Waterford Crystal factory in County Kilbarry Ireland has ended, unfortunately with little gained for the workers.

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Workers left bitter and resentful after calling off action:
CIARAN MURPHY
SOME HUDDLED in groups discussing the day’s events, others quietly took down posters; the rest said their farewells to each other.

The Gallery showrooms attached to the Waterford Crystal plant at Kilbarry had been, more or less, a home to its occupants over seven weeks. Under other circumstances, such as saving all 480 jobs at the plant and solving the complicated pension issue, the end of the occupation would have been celebrated. This was not the case yesterday.

Crystal blowers Billy Kelly, Nicky Hayes and Willie Dwyer were devastated. “It’s very sad and it’s a bitter pill to swallow,” said Mr Kelly, who has worked at the plant for 30 years. “The Government didn’t come on board with this whatsoever, we were on our own. The gun was put to our head . . . We had no choice, the union’s back was against the wall.”

Hayes, who has 28 years’ service with the company, spoke of the plant as a tourist attraction.
“There was 300,000 people coming through here each year, they had to eat somewhere, they had to drink somewhere for the few days they were here,” he said. “The reason they came to Waterford was because of Waterford Crystal,” he added.

“We’re off the tourist trail and we’d often bring up and [let] them blow a glass and they were just absolutely amazed; they just couldn’t believe it. We got loads of letters from people around the world, and photographs.”

Dwyer, a blower of 38 years, said: “It’s gone now and I can see no way of it ever coming back.”

The sunny weather seemed to mock what was the hardest of days for so many. Unaware of the problems at Kilbarry, tourists continued to arrive.

An hour earlier, at the Tower Hotel in Waterford city, workers, ashen-faced yet simmering, left a long and “angry” meeting of Unite union members.

The possible withdrawal of a €10 million ex gratia pot for workers over certain “issues” was the “gun” the workers spoke of.

Waterford Congress of Trade Unions president Tom Hogan said it was “a long and difficult meeting” and “people agonised over the proposals”.

Liam Meagher, a furnace operative at Kilbarry for over 20 years, said: “The new crowd (investment group PrestigeCo) will produce high end stuff; KPS will sell it on, and the new buzzword is that it has the fingerprint of Waterford.

“Literally, that’s all it has.”
This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times

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Here's another take on the end of the occupation, this time from the local newspaper Waterford Today.

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Attention turns to pension entitlements as Crystal sit-in ends :
The Waterford Crystal sit-in may have ended but the feeling of bitterness on behalf of the workers has not subsided as the issue of pension entitlements remains unresolved.

Legal challenges against the Irish government in the European courts could very well be the route that unions and workers will have to take in order to achieve a resolution for those who lose out from the pension crisis.

Members of the main trade union at Waterford Crystal, UNITE, voted to end the sit-in as well as accept recommendations by the Labour Relations Commission which also includes a plan to keep 170 jobs, less than half of the 480 workers who were let go by the receiver, David Carson, nearly two months ago.

The vote to end the sit-in was ratified by approximately 90 per cent of those workers in attendance at the Tower Hotel last Sunday though there was residual bitterness by workers at the current state of play regarding the redundancy terms and pension conditions. However, union officials stressed that the deal they accepted was the only one on offer.

The sit-in was entering its eighth week when workers voted to end the occupation of the visitor centre. The 10 million euro offered to the workers as part of the deal is widely known to be far short of what is needed to make up the ex-gratia payments.

Much of the deal outlined in in report by Labour Relations Commission Director of Conciliation, Kevin Foley, touched on some possible assistance by a local business consortium led by Nicky Fewer (Prestige Co) to secure the presence of the brand in the city. The coming weeks will see further negotiations between the parties but the sit-in, which even attracted the attention of documentary film makers from the United States to the union meeting last Sunday, has ended. However, a spokesperson for the Waterford consortium said yesterday (Tuesday):

"A group of business leaders from Waterford have confirmed that they are at the early stages of exploring the possible viability of resuming crystal manufacturing at Kilbarry, Waterford. The group stressed that the process is at an early stage and any more detailed comment would be premature at this point in time".

The Mayor of Waterford, Cllr Jack Walsh welcomed the news that the sit-in had ended, saying: While recognising that this leaves many families in a very difficult situation, I welcome the fact that the workforce has accepted the recommendation of the shop-stewards that the Kevin Foley report be accepted. It hopefully secures jobs for 176 workers directly with the possibility of further employment if the plan by local business leaders to secure a manufacturing presence is successful. The issues surrounding the pensions of Waterford Crystal workers are crucial and I hope that ICTU will be able to achieve a positive outcome,".

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Thus the occupation has ended, with little in the way of satisfaction for the workers concerned. It's hard to say who is the main villain in the piece. The receivers played their hand with consummate skill, and whatever the justice of the situation where the workers and their pensions are shuttled to the back of the queue of creditors the law as it stands is on the side of business. The receivers had all the time in the world to sit and wait as the morale of the occupiers and the will of the union to dole out strike pay gradually diminished. In the end the union had nothing to say to its members other than to recommend that they accept the deal offered. The government, of course, was quite dodgy about the matter of the pensions as well, and the articles above allude to the fact that the workers and their union may have a legal case against Dublin in the European Court.

The present outcome was preordained as soon as the initial momentum of the occupation turned into a waiting game. The legal cards and the financial ability to wait were all on the bosses' side. The only thing that could have saved the situation would have been the resumption of production under workers' control ie taking over the plant and trying to run its distribution themselves. Whatever the law may say the ability of the government to enforce it is constrained by public opinion, and at the beginning public opinion was solidly on the side of the occupying workers.

What the present situation shows is not that the tactic of workplace occupation is futile. In other times and places it has worked very well. What it does show is that there are many situations where the only realistic course is to go full tilt and "repossess" the workplace in question, not just hold out for a slightly better deal. Waterford was definitely just such a case.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-IRELAND:

BUYER FOUND FOR WATERFORD CRYSTAL BUT OCCUPATION CONTINUES:
It seems that the Waterford Cystal factory, under workers occupation since the parent company declared bankruptcy, has found a potential buyer in the form of the US based private equity firm KPS capital. See the following article from the Irish Times. The plant ocuupation, however, continues as the buyer has not agreed to purchase the manufacturing plant, merely sales and the tourist centre . The reasons for this may be many. A desire to shield themselves from pension obligations of the older and more experienced staff in the manufacturing plant. The fact that workers in the tourist centre (and perhaps in sales) are more likely to be younger and more transient and hence less 'unionist' and with fewer pension obligations. A desire to shift both cost and responsibility to government. Possible problems at the plant that require expenditures for upgrades. A possible plan to swiftly unload sales and the tourist centre to another buyer (typical of private equity takeovers elsewhere). And undoubtedly many other factors that don't pop immediately to mind.




It is, of course, rather presumptious to give advise from far away, but the workers are definitely right in continuing their occupation until such time as the further activity of the manufacturing plant is guaranteed. While this peicemeal purchase may be beneficial to KPS Capital it is not exactly an optimum solution for either the Waterford workers, the community of Waterford or for the Irish taxpayer. I don't know if there is either a legal or a direct action way to block this dismantling of the enterprise, but, if there is, it should certainly be looked into. Should KPS get what it wants it will end up as the 'monopoly customer' for Waterford Crystal and will basically be able to dictate any and all terms to whatever entity resumes the actual manufacturing.
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Waterford Wedgwood sold but 480 jobs remain in doubt:
BARRY O'HALLORAN
A QUESTION mark hangs over the future of 480 Waterford Crystal manufacturing jobs, despite yesterday’s deal to sell its parent to US firm KPS Capital.





Receiver David Carson, of Deloitte, agreed the sale of the company’s parent, Waterford Wedgwood, to KPS yesterday. The deal is expected to go through next month.





However, KPS has not agreed to buy the crystal manufacturing plant at Kilbarry, Waterford, where production ceased late last month with the loss of 480 jobs.





The US firm has bought other elements of the business and will keep on sales and back office staff, as well as those working in the visitors’ centre at the site.





This will result in the rescue of up to 250 jobs in Waterford.





There were 708 people working there at the time that the banks appointed Mr Carson on January 5th.





It is understood the US firm has suggested that the Government, trade union Unite, which represents the Waterford workforce, and other local interests establish if the plant can be kept in operation. In that situation, KPS Capital would be willing to buy crystal products from the manufacturing operation, once the prices compare with those made on continental Europe.
KPS will own the Waterford Crystal name, giving it the right to license out manufacturing to contractors, and sell the products under the brand(Interesting and very 'sneaky' conditions-Molly).





KPS has plans to develop the visitors’ centre at Kilbarry, which is a major tourist attraction in the region. It has been suggested that it will seek some support from the Government for this.
Waterford Crystal’s manufacturing workers have been occupying the centre since production ceased at the plant last month.





Yesterday, Unite Irish regional secretary Jimmy Kelly, a former Waterford worker, said the sit-in would continue until such time as the union’s members got the best possible deal. The union’s statement indicated that should include maintaining manufacturing at Waterford and a solution to the group’s pension deficit.





The pension fund had a shortfall of €111 million last October. If it were to become insolvent, workers who have paid into it, but have yet to retire and benefit from the scheme, could lose out.




Minister for Tourism Martin Cullen, a TD for the constituency, said the Government would work to see if there was a way of reviving manufacturing at the plant. “We will certainly look at any proposals,” he said.





KPS intends to restart manufacturing at the group’s British operations in Staffordshire, where Wedgwood and Royal Doulton china are manufactured.





Waterford Wedgwood’s businesses include Waterford Crystal, Wedgwood and Royal Doulton china in Britain and Rosenthal porcelain in Germany.





The group’s bankers placed it in receivership last month after it failed to meet repayments on its loans. Businessman Sir Anthony O’Reilly, and his brother-in-law, Peter Goulandris, had invested €400 million in the group.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-IRELAND:

CONTINUED NEGOTIATIONS OVER WATERFORD CRYSTAL:

The negotiations over the final fate of the occupied Waterford Crystal factory continue unabated, with the union still trying to be "realistic" rather than creative. As in so many other things you can "realistically" drive to defeat in a crisis situation in the most "realistic" manner. See past Molly posts on this matter and on the Kherson factory occupation for my own view. Here, from the Waterford News and Star is an article from two days ago on the latest skivvy on the stalemate.

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Union tight-lipped after Government meeting:
Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Union tight-lipped after Government meeting

By Marion O’Mara

A GLIMMER of good news loomed on the horizon this week for workers at Waterford Crystal, following what was described as “a positive engagement” between union leaders and Government officials over pensions.

Walter Cullen, Regional Organiser of UNITE, said that the discussions centred on the pension scheme. Due to the delicate nature of the talks, he declined to comment beyond describing them as positive.

A spokesperson for Deloitte Receiver, David Carson was also remaining tight-lipped yesterday amid widespread speculation that a deal had been concluded with KPS Capital Partnership for Waterford Crystal.

“No deal has been finalised and negotiations are ongoing,” he said.

Following a mass meeting at The Forum, in the city last Thursday, workers heard that KPS Capital Partnership had made a “goodwill” offer of €10m in compensation for the loss of severance and ex-gratia payments.

They also offered to lease the premises and continue small scale manufacturing, with approximately 80 jobs on the tourist trail and a further 80 jobs between the Visitor Gallery and office staff.

Following negotiations with the Receiver, the Government and the ICTU, Mr. Cullen said that they outlined to members the outcome of the talks. “We put forward a recommendation based on those negotiations and it was accepted.

Now we are waiting to hear from the Receiver,” he said. As he emerged from the tense two-hour meeting he said, “We need to devise a mechanism by which that €10m is going to be allocated in a fair and equitable way. There are conditions on that laid down by KPS and by the Receiver, which are issues that we need to address when we respond to both KPS and the Receiver, and we need clarification in relation to jobs.”

Asked about a possible bid from Clarion — the company which former Crystal Chief Executive, John Foley is involved, he said there had been no indication as to which bid would be accepted. He added that UNITE members were angry with the process they were in.

“Nobody was jumping up and down with excitement about the announcement of €10m. They are still also very unhappy with the Government – in particular with the response on the pension issue.

That still remains unresolved. “There are three elements we set out from the very start in terms of maximising the number of jobs, a manufacturing facility to produce Waterford Crystal in Waterford, compensation for the ex-gratia payments that were due to our members and resolution of the pension issue.”

Asked how much longer he thought they would get from the Receiver to resolve the process Mr. Cullen said that was a question for the Receiver. He had been indicating that he was under severe pressure to move the process forward — “as we are.”

He wanted whichever buyer was successful in the bid to engage with the union on maximising jobs and he also said that they wanted to look for alternative uses for the tank furnace if that was not part of KPS’ plans.

Mr. Cullen declined to comment on the conditions attached to the offer from KPS.

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MOLLY NOTE:

Believe it or not I actually get quite a few visits to this blog from the receiver mentioned in the above, and it doesn't seem to be connected to this one matter. i am hard pressed to understand what information they may be gathering. What i can say is that not just Deloitte and Touche, but most other receivers are a sector of the economy that has seen their business expand in the present economic crisis. I think it is about time to advance beyond Naoimi Klein's "disaster capitalism" and posit the term "vulture capitalism".

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-IRELAND:
BANK OF AMERICA OFFER INSUFFICIENT FOR WATERFORD WORKERS:
As the following item from the Irish Herald indicates the workers who have been occupying the Waterford Crystal factory in Ireland are less than satisfied by the latest offer on the part of the receivers. It is indeed insulting, offering a buyout of about 12,000 euros per worker at a time of high unemployment and with no regard to the age or experience of the workers involved. The question comes back to what Molly has presented here before. Are the workers willing to go to "plan B", despite the fact that this wouldn't enter the minds of the union that represents them, to turn the factory into a producers' cooperative ? Any further offers are likely to be at least as desultory.
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Crystal staff cool on offer:
Waterford Crystal workers have reacted negatively to the reported offer of €10m to be shared among its 800 current and former employees.





The Bank of America which, in effect, owns the company, said it is willing to give the settlement to the crystal workers, but many described the offer as derisory and insulting. Some said the offer amounts to about €12,000 per person.





The mass meeting of employees heard that New York-based private equity firm KPS is the front-runner to buy Waterford Wedgwood.





But it said it could guarantee only 120 jobs with another 120 on rolling six-month contracts. This figure compares to the 800 people who were working at the facility before Christmas. The company was placed in receivership last month after it failed to make interest payments to holders of its corporate debt on time in the closing weeks of last year.





A group of workers has been engaged in a sit-in at the visitor centre at Kilbarry for two weeks in protest at the loss of their jobs.





The meeting voted to continue the occupation of the site and would continue to push for a formula for payments to employees. Union representatives want to have a further three to four days to find a solution for those who were made redundant recently.





A deal between KPS Capital and the plant is likely to be concluded within the coming days.
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As the following item from the Irish Times lays out the UNITE union that represents the workers at Waterford seems more than likely to support a less than satisfactory resolutions and will encourage the workers to do the same. Once more not a single thought of a "Plan B", merely an attempt to struggle over scraps.
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Union backs talks with US company:
CIARÁN MURPHY
WATERFORD CRYSTAL: TRADE UNION officials last night recommended Waterford Crystal workers continue their occupation at the Kilbarry plant and support negotiations with KPS Capital after the equity firm offered €10 million to them in lieu of ex-gratia payments.





About 600 workers attended an open branch meeting for Unite trade union members.





No ballot on the offer has taken place yet.





Speaking after the meeting, regional industrial organiser Walter Cullen said: “We need to devise a formula; a mechanism for which that €10 million is going to be allocated in a fair and equitable way. (In other words accepting the idea that this is the best that can be obtained-Molly)





“We need clarification in relation to jobs . . . we now need to re-engage with the receiver and with KPS.





“Our members are still very angry with the process that they’re in. Nobody was jumping up and down in excitement with the announcement of €10 million when you think of the number of people involved in that.”





Unite’s Irish regional secretary Jimmy Kelly said jobs would need to be saved in the Visitors’ Centre, Gallery and administration functions at Kilbarry.





Said Mr Kelly: “The deal which is on the table at present secures jobs, money for those without jobs and the strong prospect of a long-term manufacturing future for Waterford Crystal in Waterford.”





He said the issue of pension protection is being addressed with Government and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
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Is all lost ? Maybe yes and maybe no. What is certain is that the tactic of factory occupations is destined to spread across the world as closures multiply. Here's a prediction from a source that could hardly be said to be happy about this eventuality, the Accountancy Age. This could hardly be said to be the wishful dreams of the left.
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Wedgwood sit-in is the first of many:
The Wedgewood Waterford workers' protest over the administration may become a trend, say experts
Written by David Jetuah
Accountancy Age, 12 Feb 2009
The occupation of a Waterford Wedgewood factory by workers in protest over the company being put into administration represents a new worry for insolvency practitioners.





Experts believe the sit-in protest by angry workers at the Waterford Wedgewood crystal factory in Ireland is unlikely to be a one-off incident.
Advertisement




The protest at the 250-year-old crystal and crockery maker was still continuing as Accountancy Age went to press.





Last week 13 workers at the company also marched into the head office reception of the company’s auditor Deloitte to protest over the actions of the receiver David Carson.





The deadlock at Deloitte’s office only ended after a meeting between two Waterford workers and Deloitte senior partners.





James Money(a more appropriate name I couldn't have dreamed up in any of my delirious fantasies-Molly), restructuring and recovery services director at Smith & Williamson, says that similar protests may occur in other hard-hit industries, such as the car and steel sectors.





Administrators have the same powers as company management when people trespass on company property, including the right to press charges against those causing criminal damage.(Ah yes says Molly, but the application of these laws is entirely dependent on the political climate prevalent at the time. If such measures are too unpopular they won't be applied.)




‘When a company goes into administration and somebody does something illegal, the same laws still apply,’ says Money.





Dealing with staff who are understandably angry and upset is tough, but insolvency practitioners can help maintain good relations with staff by keeping them informed about business developments, taking care not to raise unrealistic expectations, Nick Hood, a partner at insolvency specialist Begbies Traynor says.





‘The key is to make the workforce understand what is happening. The real know-how comes in carrying them with you as you’re doing your job.





‘There’s a hardening of attitudes among the workforce because, for very good reason, they are frightened for their jobs in what is a very tricky economic situation,’ says Hood.





‘It does make your job more difficult so IPs will have to pay more attention to the likelihood of this happening than previously. My golden rule is never make promises to the workforce that you can’t deliver.’





Ultimately, however, the administrator has to act in the interest of the creditor. ‘You can’t force somebody to buy a company, but in many ways, achieving a going concern sale is a mark of success to an IP,’ says Money.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR:

COMMUNITY STANDS BEHIND WATERFORD CRYSTAL WORKERS:

The following item is from, of all places, the Irish Sunday Business Post. It is valuable for two reasons. One is that it shows how the community of Waterford has pulled together behind the workers occupying the factory. The other thing, perhaps even more significant, is the brief mention of how the workers involved have actually been carrying on the normal business of the centre-in the absence of both management and the parasitic owners. Yes, it can be done. Workers can indeed run workplaces democratically without the "benevolent" hand of managers, either private or government. It is unfortunate that the imagination of the union involved only extends so far as to hoping for a private buy-out or, at most nationalization. The Waterford Crystal factory would be a prime candidate for a producers' co-op. It has an assured market, and its products are easily distributed without having massive funds tied up in inventory. If the government were to get involved at all it should merely be in the form of guaranteeing credit for such a venture. To say the least helping to save the Waterford plant would be far more "stimulatory" than most other government plans. By continuing to ship product and maintaining the furnaces the workers have demonstrated that they are capable and more than competent enough to run the enterprise on their own. Why not ?

Here's the article.

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Waterford on the precipice:

Sunday, February 08, 2009

By Nicola Cooke

Not one Jasper Con ran or John Rocha designed glass is out of place at the Waterford Crystal visitor centre, but protesting workers not customers now throng the centre. Camera crews hired by American director Michael Moore(Oh God!-Molly) spent some of last week recording the workers’ sit-in for a documentary on worldwide workplace protests.

The occupation at the centre, which is on the outskirts of the medieval city, began nine days ago after workers were told by receiver David Carson that manufacturing was to stop, with immediate effect. This was despite Carson being in talks with two interested parties, KPS Capital and Clarion Capital, about a takeover of troubled company Waterford Wedgwood. Workers want their redundancies rescinded before they will leave the building.

The sit-in has become a community effort, with thousands of euro already contributed to a workers’ relief fund. Bakers are supplying fresh bread on a daily basis to the Waterford staff restaurant - which has been stocked for free by local suppliers - and there are even toilet cleaning rotas.

Staff have been mild-mannered and restrained. Employees who were recently sacked have continued to work shifts to keep the plant’s furnace burning - without which glass products could not be made, and which would cost several million euro to replace if it was shut down.

‘‘We shipped thousands of euro worth of crystal to Britain today, and orders for thousands of euro more are still coming in - this business is not a sinking ship, and we are not going to let it go down that easily,” said Unite shop steward Joe Kelly, an industrial engineer who has worked for 36 years at the Kilbarry crystal plant.

‘‘Waterford Crystal is a globally recognised brand that can still make big profits, and this city and county cannot afford to lose such an icon. Directly, there are 700 jobs under threat, but indirectly there are thousands more from transport and logistics, to catering and cleaning contractors. This visitor centre had 350,000 visitors last year - the third-highest number of people to visit any such centre in Ireland last year - we can’t let a huge draw like that just slip through our fingers,” Kelly said.

The impact a closure, or partial closure, of the factory would have on general trade and business in Waterford has not been lost on any of the local business people.

Waterford Chamber of Commerce chief executive Monica Leech said that to lose Waterford Crystal would be a ‘‘huge economical and psychological blow’’ for the city, and said that its direct benefit to the local economy had been estimated at €40million by economists.

‘‘Without Waterford Crystal the general spend in the city would drop hugely. This is due to the tourism and retail spin off it provides and because so many jobs are directly and indirectly dependent on its operations. We are confident, however, it will attract a buyer,’’ she said.

‘‘I suppose what the situation highlights is Waterford’s dependence on older industries, like manufacturing, and the lack of a regional drive for research and development jobs, and industries like biopharma. WIT [Waterford Institute of Technology] is doing great work in the telecoms sector, but we really need a university here - and all that attracts.”

Harvey Travel owner Seán Power said in a good year his subsidiary, Waterford Cruise Developments, handled 4,000 to 5,000 cruise customers and their only reason for docking in the south-east was ‘‘to see its jewel -Waterford Crystal’’.

‘‘Cruise passengers spend an average of five to seven times more than independent travellers. It is Waterford Crystal’s exclusive brand name that ensures it is included in the itineraries of these cruises, cruises where most of the passengers are wealthy Americans,” he said.

Paul McDaid, managing director of Tower Hotel Group - which has two hotels in Waterford - said he had contracts with CIE Tours and Globus for tourist groups six days a week from April to October. This averages around 50 people per night.

‘‘In terms of room rates, this alone is worth €500,000 to me annually, and that is not taking account of what these people spend in the bar. Without Waterford Crystal I do not think there would be tour groups coming here - we don’t have attractions like Kilkenny Castle or the Rock of Cashel here. I would imagine family run businesses could survive if the plant were to go, but there’s no doubt it would be the death knell for some hotels, restaurants and shops if it is not taken over,” he said.

The French owner of up market bistro La Boheme concurred with this view. Eric Theme, who opened his restaurant two and a half years ago, said a number of nearby premises were already shutting as a result of the recession.

‘‘For some of our customers their main reason for visiting Waterford is to see the home of the crystal. I am from Brittany and knew about Waterford Crystal when I was a child. It is world-famous,” he said.

Tom Cunningham, a local developer and Waterford city councillor, said a multi-agency group had been set up almost a year ago when a number of redundancies were announced.

Since then, he said the group had been pooling ideas and coming up with initiatives to help the city survive.

‘‘There is a local effort to deal with this situation in the best way possible, but it is vital that the manufacturing of the glassware - which is a hugely skilled job - continues in Waterford, and that the visitor centre remains open.

‘‘The loss of this to Waterford would be equivalent to the Guinness brewery and storehouse closing down in Dublin - it’s the heart of the city and county,” he said.

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The Waterford workers have gathered support and interest from far and wide. Here's the statement of support from the Irish platformist group the Workers' Solidarity Movement. Also a link to an interview with Joe Kelly of Unite, the union that represents the Waterford workers.

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Support workers occupying Waterford Glass:

The message is clear.

Workers have been occupying the Waterford Glass factory in Kilbarry for five days now after the receiver was unable to borrow further funds to keep the plant operating. Yesterday as 150 workers continued the occupation members of the Cork WSM visited the plant and interviewed Joe Kelly, the chairman of the Crystal Unite branch. The Cork branch later issued a statement in support of the occupation.

The closure threatens not only the 700 jobs at and around the plant but if it had proceeded as planned by the receiver would have threatened their redundancy payments. Many workers have already discovered there is not the money in the company pension fund to cover their pensions. Last October the fund was 111 million euro in the red, a situation that can only have got worse since. Although one of the bids for the plant, that of Clarion Capital, would see some jobs being saved there is a danger these would be at greatly reduced pay and conditions. The author of the other bid, KPS, seems only interested in the "group’s intellectual property assets, which would include its brand names, product designs and manufacturing processes".
Statement by Cork WSM in support of Waterford Glass Occupation
The Waterford Glass workers have taken a stand. At a time when 'talks' and more 'talks' are leading to huge concessions for us workers - be that in the private sector or in the public sector - they have said enough! On Friday, very publicly and with determination, the reacted to the threats and lies of the receiver appointed by Waterford Wedgewood, and seized the plant and offices at Kilbarry in Waterford city. The Workers Solidarity Movement salutes their stand and offers then full solidarity and support.

In the last while there has been an unprecedented assault on our living standards. Huge numbers of us have been put out of jobs or put on short time; we have been told bluntly 'Take a pay cut or your job is gone'. Our union leadership has reacted to this with offers of talks and with appeals for calm. While doing this they have leaned over backwards to meet the demands of the bosses and the Government. Against this scenario, the Waterford Glass workers have said NO MORE. The time for talking with your hands tied behind your back are over! Workers did not create this crisis and they sure aren't going to pay the huge price that is being asked to solve it!

The WSM is mindful of the reality that the Waterford Glass workers in Kilbarry are in very difficult situation. Their jobs are on the line and a blatant attempt has been made to rob them of not just of these jobs but also of any outstanding monies that are due to them. It is very clear also that the future for huge numbers of workers and their families are on the line here. This is an example of where solidarity can count and can make all the difference. It is crucial now that we build and show as much support as we can for the action of these workers. It is also vital that rank and file workers mobilise to help extend this action. We urge the following as a priority:

· Send message of support to the workers at Kilbarry F:
+353-(0)51-332716
· Organise collections and send a delegation to visit the occupation
· Organise a solidarity protest where you live.
· Raise the issue in your union or college.

Interview with Joe Kelly, Chairman of UNITE in Waterford Crystal
Members of the Cork branch of the Workers Solidarity Movement travelled to Waterford to offer solidarity support to the occupying workers. While there we took the opportunity to do an interview, asking the kind of questions that fellow workers and readers of Indymedia might be interested in, and also took some photos.
Download the MP3 file here: http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/feb2009/wsm_waterford_crystal.mp3

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-IRELAND:

SIX THOUSAND DEMONSTRATE TO SAVE WATERFORD CRYSTAL:

Earlier today 6,000 people demonstrated in the streets of Waterford in Ireland in support of the workers occupying the Waterford Crystal factory. the following, from the Irish Times, tells the story. There is also now a Facebook group devoted to saving Waterford. You can access it at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=110003560463 . In a few days of existence it has gathered 4,035 members the last that Molly looked.

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Union leader at Waterford believes plant can be saved:

BARRY ROCHE, Southern Correspondent, in Waterford
UNION LEADERS representing workers at Waterford Crystal last night remained confident that a deal can be done to save the plant and secure pension entitlements for former workers as over 6,000 marched through Waterford in support of the workforce.

Unite regional industrial organiser Walter Cullen told The Irish Times that the union was still confident that the Clarion Capital group would be successful in its bid for the plant, in the process securing more than 300 jobs at the plant, including some 200 in manufacturing.

It is understood that Clarion Capital, which includes former Waterford Crystal chief executive John Foley is carrying out due diligence on the company having lodged a bid with the receiver, David Carson of Deloitte and Touche last Saturday.

Mr Cullen said that he remained confident the Government would still intervene to provide a pension protection plan for former workers, despite the collapse of the pay talks between Government and the social partners on Tuesday. He said that the union had put proposals to the Government prior to the collapse of the talks which would involve the Government underwriting the workers’ pensions, but which would not cost hundreds of millions.

While Unite had received advice that it could bring legal action against the Government over its failure to implement an EU directive on pension protection, he said the union remained hopeful that the proposals put to the Government would be accepted, thus avoiding the need for legal action.

Mr Cullen was speaking after some 6,000 people marched in support of the Waterford Crystal workers who are continuing to occupy the plant after Mr Carson announced that he was closing the factory last Friday and made workers redundant.

Workers made redundant on Friday were joined by former employees and workers from other companies around Waterford, as well as people from all over the city.

The march began at the AIB Bank on Paddy Browne’s Road and was led by former Waterford Crystal employees and pipers Terry McAuliffe and Tony Wallace who were joined by the Barrack Street Band who played a series of stirring airs as thousands walked behind the array of banners.

Among those represented at the march were Unite, which represents over 90 per cent of workers at Waterford Glass, Waterford Council of Trade Unions, Dublin Council of Trades Unions, Siptu members from Iarnród Éireann in Waterford and TUI members at Waterford Institute of Technology.The workers and their supporters made their way to the car park at the visitor centre in Kilbarry where the rally was addressed by a series of speakers including the Mayor of Waterford councillor Jack Walsh who warned that the closure of the factory would be disastrous for the city.

Messages of solidarity were read from the former general secretary of the TUC in the UK, Jack Jones, and Liverpool dockers, while thanks were also expressed on behalf of the occupying workers to the Waterford people who had provided supplies.

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MOLLY NOTE:

It is rather disappointing that there doesn't seem to be a "Plan B" on the part of the union should Clarion Capital not turn out to be the white knight. being as the government is already being pressured to underwrite the pension plan for the employees of the plant it doesn't take a far stretch of the imagination that they could also be pressured to act as guaranteers for a producers' cooperative if Plan A fails to materialize.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-IRELAND:

WATERFORD CRYSTAL FACTORY OCCUPATION CONTINUES:

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As of today the workers at the Waterford Crystal factory in Waterford Ireland are continuing their occupation of the premises. Here, is a brief update from the UK press hosted on Google.

Waterford sit-in into fourth night:
Angry workers at the threatened Waterford Crystal factory dug their heels in with a bitter attack on critics as they vowed to continue a sit-in for a fourth night.

Negotiations between receiver David Carson and the US-based Clarion investment consortium were continuing, with trade union leaders yet to be briefed in detail on any rescue plan.

Unite representative Walter Cullen hit out at accusations that the peaceful protest had descended into anarchy. "These workers feel passionately about their jobs as something more than filling a shift," he said. "They have conducted themselves throughout with dignity and respect for the property. Those who are concerned about the image of Ireland might look more to the events surrounding some of our financial institutions rather than events in the south east as a cause for greater concern."
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The workers have also taken their protest to the Dublin headquarters of the receiver Deloitte & Touche. Here's a report of what happened there earlier today from the Irish Times.

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Waterford workers stage protest at Deloitte offices:

Angry scenes at Deloitte & Touche's headquarters in Dublin today as Waterford Crystal workers staged a protest. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
LUKE CASSIDY
Waterford Wedgwood workers staged a protest for several hours at the offices of Deloitte & Touche in Dublin earlier today.

About 12 Waterford Wedgwood workers entered the reception area of Deloitte & Touche’s headquarters on Earlsfort Terrace in protest at the actions of Deloitte partner David Carson, who was appointed as a receiver to the ailing glassware company last month.

Mr Carson took the decision to close Waterford's Kilbarry plant on Friday prompting a sit-in protest by workers.

Union Unite, which represents the workers, said today’s protest was designed bring to the attention of those 1,100 people who work for Deloitte in Ireland the poor manner in which Mr Carson and their company have handled the situation in Waterford Crystal since last Friday.
When the workers first entered the Deloitte building at 11am this morning they were told by security personnel to leave and that they were trespassing.

At one stage gardaí were called to remove the protesters but following a meeting between two Waterford workers and senior partners at Deloitte, at which the workers registered their dismay at the actions of Mr Carson, the protest ended.

Waterford worker Tom Hogan said the protesters represented a cross section of the workforce and had come up to Dublin to make a protest and “to say we are not human waste that can be set aside when we are surplus to requirements."

Speaking after the meeting with senior partners Pat Cullen and David Deasy at Deloitte, Mr Hogan said: “We left them in no doubt as to how we feel about the actions of their partner David Carson in dumping 480 people.

“We put it to them that Deloitte is interested in one thing only, making it [Waterford Crystal] as attractive as possible to who they sell it to and to increase their own fee.

“They have absolutely no concern for individuals or families that are suffering as a result of this. We’ve made our protest here today we’ll be returning to Waterford now to join our colleagues in the factory to continue the occupation.

“We emphasised to them we won’t be going away anywhere soon…we are in for the long haul.
“If no prospective buyer turns up we expect this Government to take this into public ownership on behalf of the people of the south east region and of the country.”

More than 700 workers were employed at the plant until Friday, 480 of them in manufacturing.

Workers staging the sit-in have been operating a rota system with up to 100 people remaining in the plant at any given time.

In a statement before the protest, Unite regional organiser Walter Cullen said “It will be a peaceful demonstration. We will not be employing private security forces to ‘protect’ us as the receiver shamefully did in Waterford.”

“The sit in at Waterford was a direct result of David Carson’s action in closing the plant with no discussion, no contact or no respect for the working people who generated sales of €180 million for the company in the United States alone last year.

“Maintaining the plant as a going concern is essential to keep hope alive in the bids that have been made. If Deloitte is not willing to do that then we will,” he said

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Meanwhile government Minister Martin Cullen who visited the plant as a flack runner to show (or pretend) that the government was "doing" something was challenged during his visit. Here is the story, Once more from the Irish Times.

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Workers at sit-in challenge visiting politicians on handling of crisis:
CIARÁN MURPHY in Waterford
WORKERS STAGING a sit-in at the showcase Waterford Crystal Gallery yesterday challenged visiting politicians about the Government’s handling of the crisis which has seen production come to a halt.

About 150 workers gathered at the showroom yesterday, the fourth day of the occupation, while some challenged Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen who was there in relation to the issue. The workers on Sunday evening voted in favour of continuing the occupation.

Minister Cullen yesterday said he could understand why the occupation happened.

“I think the workers and everybody . . . we’d all prefer if it hadn’t happened. But we are where we are.”

“But I’m here this morning and I have to say there’s a sense of calm about the place and I think that’s a good thing.”

However, the Minister was challenged by workers upon leaving the plant.

One man wanted to know what the Minister meant when he said things were better for them than they had been:

“You said that we were better off . . . that ‘you’re better today’.

“I have no job this morning, after 42 years, and you’re telling me I’m better off . . . thanks very much.”

Mr Cullen said he was referring to the various proposals to keep the company alive and it was the company’s “prospects” that were better than on Friday.

Meanwhile, TD for Carlow-Kilkenny, deputy Bobby Aylward, Waterford Deputy Brendan Kenneally and Waterford City councillor Tom Murphy, all Fianna Fáil, also visited the plant yesterday.

Mr Aylward was also challenged by workers as he left the gallery yesterday.

“The people in the street; they have enough of these people who are getting away with millions, right?,” asked one worker.

The man, who did not wish to be named, added: “Like, there are ordinary citizens in this country who invested in this place . . . where is their money now? They expected a small little dividend from it.”

Workers who were not served with letters informing them that their jobs would be terminated, turned up for work yesterday.

Some of these workers, who have been given clearance to work from their union Unite, ensured that the furnace continued to function yesterday. Tending to the furnace at the Kilbarry plant is a continuous, “non-stop” process.

One former furnace operative, Bobby Gaulle, who worked at the plant for 37 years and took redundancy in November, said he is still owed “about €60,000”.

Mr Gaulle said that were the furnace to cease operating, it would cost “in the region of somewhere between” €8,000 to €11,000 to get it operational again.

“What happens is that the material hardens and the sides of the furnace would cave in.

“The way furnaces are built, they are kept together with heat. If you reduce the heat or knock off the heat she caves in on herself.

“And the stuff inside then just goes hard. Even to repair it would cost up to three million.”

Throughout yesterday, John Foley, a former chief executive of Waterford Crystal, engaged in talks with the receiver of the company, David Carson, and later with union officials at Kilbarry.

Unite’s Irish Regional Secretary Jimmy Kelly last night said that until yesterday morning, the receiver had resisted allowing Mr Foley into the plant to “look at the books”.

Speaking from the visitors centre at Waterford Crystal yesterday morning, MEP for Munster, Kathy Sinnott, said all TDs, MEPs and Senators should take a 20 per cent pay cut on their wages and “share the pain of these difficult times with our constituents”.

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There will be further solidarity actions with the Waterford workers in days to. Here's a notice about a local action due be held tomorrow (later today over there).

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Public Demonstration in Support of Waterford Crystal Workers:
by Alan M. - Workers Solidarity Movement - Cork
Gathering at AIB Bank, Paddy Browne Road.Wednesday, 4th February 2009, 4pm.Marching to Visitors Centre Car Park, Waterford Crystal.

Support the workers who have been treated appallingly. If they can do it to them, they can do it to us all. Please attend and defend against this attack on Waterford's economy, culture & heritage.Organised by Waterford Council of Trade Unions (WCTU)

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The union for the workers at Waterford is the T&G section of UNITE. You can access their news of the event by going to the Irish region section of their website. The possibility that the works could be nationalized if a suitable buyer unwilling to keep them in operation cannot be found has been mentioned by union spokesmen. Molly thinks that reconstitution of the operation as a producers cooperative would be a better solution. No doubt the government would have to be involved as a guarantor of debt, but it would be better to have the state as a creditor rather than as a boss. There is no indication that government bureaucrats would be any better at running the business than the private owners have been. History actually suggests the precise opposite. The workers presently employed at the plant would have the advantage of knowledge unavailable to outside managers. Molly would further suggest that any "compensation" offered to the present owners (or their liquidators) be properly adjusted by subtraction of the debts that the government would have to underwrite. This, obviously, would be a matter of duelling accountants, but a case could be made that the sum owed would be less than zero. Small investors, of course, should be offered better terms than large holdings. It's all food for thought.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR-IRELAND:

WATERFORD CRYSTAL WORKERS OCCUPY FACTORY:

The spill over from the bankruptcy of the Wedgewood china group has affected the Waterford Crystal factory in Waterford County Kilbarry Ireland. The famous factory was due to be closed as part of the restructuring involved in the breakup of the company. this is becoming an increasingly common scenario as workers are being made to pay for the mistakes of management when the devil comes to collect his due in hard economic times. The workers of Waterford Crystal, however, have responded by occupying their factory. It is a tactic that should be used more often to fight against plant closures. Potential buyers for the firm are apparently only interested in "the brand". This is just as bizarre as it sounds. Waterford crystal manufactured outside of Waterford would not exactly be "Waterford Crystal" except in the never never world of advertising. Here's the story from Google's AFP news service.

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Ireland's Waterford Crystal workers occupy factory
DUBLIN (AFP) — Workers occupying the factory of Ireland's troubled Waterford Crystal pledged on Saturday to continue their sit-in until the future of the company is resolved.

Workers started their occupation of the Kilbarry factory and visitor centre in Waterford city on Friday after an official who has been running the company for almost a month informed staff that production would cease immediately.

Walter Cullen, organiser in south-east Ireland for the Unite trade union, told AFP they wanted the closure reversed while talks about the future of the company continued.

"We will continue to sit in until the situation is resolved. We have huge support," Cullen said.

Waterford Wedgwood, the maker of high-quality china and glass, went into administration and receivership and its shares were suspended on January 5 after efforts to find a "white knight" investor failed.

The official said the decision to cease manufacturing did not "necessarily preclude a resumption of operations in Waterford in the future."

Cullen said the receiver had been in discussions with two potential buyers, US-based investors KPS Capital and Clarion Capital.

The glass business, originally founded in the late 18th century, has been one of Waterford's major employers.

Cullen said 480 of 650 workers had received termination notices.

"Most of these workers would have long service and be aged in the 45 to 50 bracket. Even for the younger people, the chances of them getting alternative jobs are not great.

"We have had huge crises in the past. There have been nine restructuring plans put in place since 1987 and we have managed to resolve all those and move the company forward all the time."

Cullen said they had staged the sit-in because they believed the business was much more attractive as a going concern.

The glassworks visitor centre has become an import factor in local tourism, attracting about 300,000 visitors a year.

Waterford mayor Jack Walsh said the decision to close had come as a "huge shock."

"While there has been a clear awareness for some time now of how serious the situation faced by the company is, the soundings coming out of the discussions with the two interested parties from the US gave people reason to believe that a sale could be completed without the doors being closed at Kilbarry," Walsh said.

Manufacturing in Ireland has been hit hard by the global downturn.

The once-booming Irish economy will have shrunk up to 10 percent by 2010, Prime Minister Brian Cowen said on Wednesday.

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Here's how the events were reported on the LibCom site from Britain.

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Workers occupy crystal factory for second night:
Waterford Crystal workers have spent a second night occupying the main visitor centre at the company's factory in Waterford in the Republic of Ireland.

They are protesting at the decision by the receiver to stop manufacturing and make 480 staff redundant. The company, which employs 670 people, went into receivership at the beginning of January.

Union officials and Irish government representatives met the receiver on Saturday evening. Unions are expected to brief workers on developments at the factory on Sunday afternoon. The trade union Unite has said there are two potential purchasers of the business.

Earlier in the week, a statement by the receiver, David Carson of Deloitte Ireland, said: "The decision to cease manufacturing does not necessarily preclude a resumption of operations in Waterford in the future.

"The receiver is continuing negotiations 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."

The employees have said they will not leave the plant until they meet Mr Carson.

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The workers involved have, for the moment, decided to continue their occupation. As the following article from the Irish Times says they have been generously supported by the surrounding community.

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Waterford workers to continue plant sit-in:
BARRY ROCHE in Waterford
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.

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Finally, here's a posting on the section devoted to Ireland at the Anarchist Black Cat discussion board. It tells more about the solidarity that is being shown to the occupying workers.

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Waterford Crystal Factory Occupation Enters Third Day:
Tonight, Trade union officials have been addressing a meeting of around 700 Waterford Crystal employees and former staff on developments regarding the company's future.

Workers started their occupation of the Waterord Crystal factory and visitor centre on Friday after an official who has been running the company for almost a month informed staff that production would cease immediately. They are protesting at the decision by the receiver to stop manufacturing and make 480 staff redundant.

Yesterday, an estimated 2,000 people attended a rally in support of the Waterford Crystal workers. In a show of solidarity, taxi drivers across the city switched off their engines and some businesses stopped work between 1pm and 2pm. Sleeping bags, blankets and food parcels have been donated locally.

The Starry Plough, the flag of James Connolly's and Jim Larkin's Irish Citizen Army, has been raised. Workers are also conducting their own tours of the visitor centre to tourists.

More:

http://news.google.ie/news?oe=utf-8&rls ... 1299021354

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/90900