Interview: What is happening at the Waterford occupation?

national | worker & community struggles and protests | other press Tuesday February 24, 2009 14:35 by Darren C

23 February 2009

The Waterford occupation has entered its fourth week. Workers at Waterford Crystals are fighting for their jobs after the Waterford Wedgwood Group went into receivership. Negotiations are still in progress as two rival companies Clarion Investments and KPS Capital Partners talk to the receiver and union officials about a possible purchase. As our leaflet on the march in Dublin pointed out either bidder will cut jobs that’s why we need nationalisation under workers control.

L5I: What’s the mood like at the occupation?
TH: The mood is very positive; we’re really waiting on word of which of the two bidders is going to succeed in buying. Obviously we’re trying to put pressure on the government to take it into public ownership but we haven’t met with a response from that.

L5I: Whoever buys, it will involve job losses, that’s why public ownership is so important to stop that
TH: No doubt either of 2 bidders would involve job losses. People see that the government have written this off and not going to move in and take it over. If this crowd (one of bidders - L5I) take it over the majority of workers will lose their jobs and they want to be compensated. In addition to that you have the question of pensions, people have been told after 40 even 45 years service they have no pension entitlement, that pensions have gone down the tube. Public ownership has not entirely gone off the agenda because some spokespersons for the government have indicated taking some of the factory into public ownership like the tourist trade with the other crowd buying the brand.

L5I: Do you think we need a socialist alternative?
TH: We do indeed!

Send messages of support and donations to UNITE Hall, Keyzer St, Waterford, Co. Waterford, Republic of Ireland. Phone 00353 5187 5438 or email walter.cullen@unitetheunion.com