Waterford Crystal workers strike in 1990 over cost cutting by managers who believe their jobs can be outsourced.
2,300 workers at Waterford Crystal went on strike for 14 weeks over a £10 million savings package at the company that ended bonus payments for glass cutters in 1990.
Fergus Ó Raghallaigh reports for ‘Today Tonight’ on the deadlocked strike. Chief Executive Paddy Galvin insists the cuts are necessary if the company is to survive and says it costs more to produce the glass than it can be sold for. He claims the glass could be sourced for half the cost elsewhere.
Chief Shop Steward Jimmy Kelly says the workers do not accept this and that the skills to make the glass are not exportable, they are based in Waterford: “We don’t feel it’s on that you take Czechoslovakian glass and stick a Waterford label on it”. Willie Farrell, Chairperson of the Strike Committee, says management is to blame for the dispute and it can only be solved if wage cuts are taken off the table.
The workers eventually reached an agreement with management on cost cuts. Much of the production has since been outsourced.
Title: |
Waterford Crystal Strike |
Clip Duration: |
00:03:36 |
Material Type: |
Video |
Clip Title: |
Sticking a Waterford Label on Czechoslovakian Glass |
Series Title: |
Today Tonight |
Information: |
'Today Tonight' was a RTÉ current affairs programme with up-to-the-minute coverage of events at home and abroad. 'Today Tonight' was first broadcast on Monday, 6 October, 1980 and ran for 12 years until 1992. Edited by Joe Mulholland, the original presenters included Barry Cowan, Brian Farrell and Olivia O'Leary. 'Today Tonight' aired from Monday to Thursday on RTÉ 1. |
Local Keywords: |
Industrial disputes, Trade unionism, Strikes, Waterford Crystal, Waterford Glass, Paddy Galvin, Jimmy Kelly, Willie Farrell |
Coverage: |
Ireland |
Topic: |
Society and Social Issues |
Contributor(s): |
Fergus Ó Raghallaigh (Reporter) |
Publisher: |
RTÉ |
First Broadcast Channel: |
RTÉ One |
Broadcast Date: |
15/05/1990 |
Production Year: |
1990 |
Country of Production: |
Ireland |
Original Identifier: |
98D00139 |
IPR Restrictions: |
Rights Reserved - Free Access |
Rights, Terms and Conditions: |
Copyright RTÉ. This material may not be replicated in any form or manner without the prior express permission of RTÉ. Any form of reproduction in print, television, video, multimedia, web site or other electronic media or any form of dissemination for commercial or non-commercial use must be licensed by the RTÉ Archives. If you wish to licence video or audio clips, still images or text, or would like further guidance please contact us. RTÉ Archives are committed to respecting the copyright of others and have attempted to source and credit the copyright owners of all material used here. RTÉ would like to hear from any copyright owners who are not properly identified here so that the necessary corrections can be made. If you feel your copyright has not been respected please contact us. |
Item Type: |
part/extract |
Colour: |
Colour |
Sound: |
Mono |
Aspect Ratio: |
4:3 |
Language: |
English (eng) |
Original Language: |
English (eng) |
