UNION LEADERS will this morning discuss with management at Bausch Lomb last night’s announcement that 1,400 workers at the plant in Waterford city would start short-time working in February.
The company, which manufactures contact lenses and other eye healthcare products, is one of the biggest employers in the south east.
A company spokesman said that it had “anticipated introducing unpaid leave of one week per month for the coming six months” but that the situation would be reviewed on a monthly basis.
“The decision was taken in response to the state of the global economy,” the spokesman said.
It would be prudent not to “unnecessarily build” high inventory levels of product without being certain of what impact the economic downturn may have on consumer purchase decisions, added the spokesman.
Management met employees and union representatives during the day, before the announcement was made at tea-time.
Siptu branch organiser Marie Butler said: “Our engagement with them [management] is starting in the morning so hopefully in the next couple of weeks we’ll have full engagement in relation to how it’s going to happen.” Ms Butler said officials still had to find out the exact reasons for the announcement.
“We still haven’t got to the bottom of the reasons why, other than the general economic slowdown,” she said. “So, there’s still a good bit of discussion to be had yet. There are no jobs being lost and, in the current climate, this is to be welcomed,” Ms Butler said.
“The plans for short-time working have been put to Siptu for discussion and we intend working with the company to make sure short-time working is managed in a way that protects jobs.”
However, Fine Gael Senator Paudie Coffey said it was devastating news not only to those employed by the company but to the wider local community.
“This news will come as a crippling blow to the 1,400 workers at Bausch Lomb who are being forced to take unpaid leave of one week per month for at least the next six months, a move which will see wages cut by 25 per cent.
“Families are understandably fearful of the road ahead. Making ends meet is becoming increasingly difficult day by day and now 1,400 families will be forced to cover the cost of living with just three-quarters of their usual wage,” Mr Coffey said.
“Meanwhile, this negligent Government continues to preside over an increase in the costs of gas, electricity, waste, water and other State-controlled charges, forcing families ever closer to the edge.”
