People in Waterford are angry at the closure of crystal factory, a local priest has said. Fr Pat Fitzgerald, who attended a rally in support of the Waterford Wedgewood workers last weekend, told The Irish Catholic workers were angry for the ''offensive, undignified and disrespectful'' manner in which they were dismissed.
Hundreds of workers occupied the factory for five days after being told by text message they were losing their jobs.
They also occupied the offices of the receiver, Deloitte, in Dublin. Scuffles broke out as private security teams brought in by receivers tried to keep employees from storming the plant.
Fr Fitzgerald said anger was also directed at the Government ''who put great effort into bailing out the bank and couldn't put the same effort into helping the workers of Waterford Crystal''.
There has been renewed calls to nationalise the factory if a proposed bid by a second US-based consortium Clarion, collapses. It is hoped that the purchase could save 300 of the 700 jobs at the plant.
Fr Fitzgerald said the community was ''grieving for the loss of a future''.
''The factory brought great benefits to the area, generations of families worked there. Obviously there is ecomonic loss, but there is a loss of future, a lot of them are not going to be able to get another job.''
Fr Thomas Rogers, Parish priest of the Holy Family Church in Waterford said the broader consequences for tourism in the city would be dire.
''There are 30,000 visitors a year to Waterford and most of them come to see the Crystal.''
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(Source: IC)