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What is happening at the Waterford occupation?

Interview with Tom Hogan, UNITE, President of Waterford Trades Council and former employee at the plant

The Waterford occupation has entered its fourth week. Workers at Waterford Crystals are fighting for their jobs after the Waterford Wedgwood Group went into receivership. Negotiations are still in progress as two rival companies Clarion Investments and KPS Capital Partners talk to the receiver and union officials about a possible purchase. As our leaflet on the march in Dublin pointed out either bidder will cut jobs that’s why we need nationalisation under workers control.

L5I: What’s the mood like at the occupation?

TH: The mood is very positive; we’re really waiting on word of which of the two bidders is going to succeed in buying. Obviously we’re trying to put pressure on the government to take it into public ownership but we haven’t met with a response from that.

L5I: Whoever buys, it will involve job losses, that’s why public ownership is so important to stop that

TH: No doubt either of 2 bidders would involve job losses. People see that the government have written this off and not going to move in and take it over. If this crowd (one of bidders – L5I) take it over the majority of workers will lose their jobs and they want to be compensated. In addition to that you have the question of pensions, people have been told after 40 even 45 years service they have no pension entitlement, that pensions have gone down the tube. Public ownership has not entirely gone off the agenda because some spokespersons for the government have indicated taking some of the factory into public ownership like the tourist trade with the other crowd buying the brand.

L5I: Is your trade union calling for public ownership?

TH: Yes they are.

L5I: As socialists we would argue it is done under workers control with no business secrecy and democratic control of the board, what do you think?

TH: Point has been made by dozens of workers on TV and radio though not putting it as openly as yourself but we could run this ourselves, we couldn’t make any worse a mess than has been done.

L5I: What support have you received from local workers in Waterford?

TH: In Waterford we have had two rallies, the first of 2,000 people in atrocious conditions. A week later the Trades Council of which I am president organised a march of 10000 people and we had workers from every workplace in the city. A great morale boost for everybody. We have had messages of support from the Liverpool dockers, from Jack Jones and Michael Moore the film maker and many more. We have sent speakers to London and asked to send speakers to Scotland and elsewhere in the UK. Huge interest everywhere.

L5I: What you’ve done is a beacon to labour movement everywhere. It needs to spread!

TH: In Ennis we’ve heard of a sit in at a company that makes diamond products formerly de Beers. They were introducing short time work and then moved to sack 150 people and we heard about sit in at the canteen. If we’re an inspiration to anybody then fantastic!

L5I: I’ve been disturbed to hear about trade union leaders talking about social solidarity when it’s only workers making sacrifices. They shouldn’t have to, that’s another reason why your occupation is an inspiration.

TH: People by and large feel they got very little out of the Celtic Tiger and certainly didn’t cause the problems that are happening. They shouldn’t be asked to pay for it. But on the other hand there is a feeling that this economy could go over the cliff and someone better do something about it. There is a mixture of feeling about what should happen. I was asked a question by a TV crew as what happens if government don’t listen to these protests. I replied they should be swept from power, just go and the next crew that come in should know what the workers’ agenda is.

L5I: Do you think we need a socialist alternative?

TH: We do indeed!

Send messages of support and donations to UNITE Hall, Keyzer St, Waterford, Co. Waterford, Republic of Ireland. Phone 00353 5187 5438 or email [email protected]

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