OVER 3,000 people were addressed by Unite union officials on the grounds of the Waterford Crystal visitors centre on Saturday afternoon.
They came from counties Dublin, Wexford, Kilkenny and other destinations and braved pouring rain to show their support for the situation at Waterford Crystal, a decision by the receiver on Friday to halt manufacturing at the Kilbarry plant and make 480 staff redundant.
Hundreds of workers at the plant took control of the Gallery showroom at Kilbarry and have been staging a sit in since then.
“It’s so heartening, when you see other people across Waterford and outside Waterford, said Unite regional secretary Jimmy Kelly on Saturday.
The rally was organised by the Waterford Congress of Trade Unions (WCTU), while another is planned for Wednesday. Thousands swarmed on the carpark at the showrooms, while parked cars filled the street at Claremont and up to Sunrise Crescent.
Mr Kelly told those gathered the Government “has to take a massive interest in this brand”, even if that meant nationalisation and “investing in the visitors centre and in manufacturing” at Kilbarry.
Regional industrial organiser Walter Cullen added: “To be treated in the way that they [the workers] have been treated on Friday where they got letters sent around in vans; scurrying around Waterford dropping off letters through people’s letterboxes; it’s absolutely disgraceful and it’s absolutely unacceptable.”
Senator Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael ) added: “There is huge emotion and solidarity being shown right across the political and social spectrum in the city and county of Waterford and of course, further afield.”
Another rally is planned for Wednesday at 4pm, gathering at the AIB bank at Paddy Brown’s Road.
