The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
Manufacturing Manufacture Of Rubber And Plastic Products And Other Non-Metallic Mineral Products Manufacture Of Other Non-Metallic Mineral Products 23 - Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products
European Globalisation Fund (EGF)
Year: 2009, Case number: 12
New offshoring locations
Slovenia
490 jobs Number of planned job losses
Announcement Date
31 October 2007
Employment effect (start)
Foreseen end date
30 April 2008
Description
Waterford Crystal, the Irish multi-national manufacturer of glass, has announced that it is to cut up to 490 jobs at its headquarters in Waterford at which crystal is manufactured. The firm employs 1000 at its Waterford site, and the job losses are due to be implemented by the end of April 2008. It has also been reported that the jobs lost at the Waterford plant will be ‘offshored’ to Slovenia. Employees at the plant have protested against the decision, and the announcement also follows the firm closing its factory in Dungarvan in 2005 with the loss of 485 jobs. As of October 2007, the firm has declined to provide specific details about the job losses. However, in September 2007, the firm’s chairman Sir Anthony O’Reilly stated that a ‘final’ comprehensive restructuring plan ‘must be achieved’ before the end of the financial year in March 2008. Additional information on this case is available on the European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO) - Job cuts likely at Waterford Crystal following restructuring, published on 21 January 2008).
Sources
28 January 2008: European Industrial Relations Observatory
24 October 2007: Industrial relations news
21 January 2008: European Industrial Relations Observatory
1 November 2007: The Irish Times
Citation
Eurofound (2007), Waterford Crystal, Offshoring/Delocalisation in Ireland, factsheet number 65987, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/65987.
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