Waterford Crystal workers continue their fight for justice

They say that this option form was not produced at the time and its existence has not been proven since
Waterford Crystal workers continue their fight for justice

The former Waterford Crystal building, pictured in 1990

Over 30 years ago, 450 former employees of Waterford Crystal were misinformed concerning their future pension entitlement at the time of their redundancy in the company.

The employees agreed to a voluntary redundancy package with their employer in the early 1990s.

However, as a result of accepting this package, they were excluded from a government compensation fund when the company became insolvent years later, and as a result were left without a pension.

The workers claim that the company misinformed them by offering only one pension option – the return of their pension contributions.

They were entitled to three options contained on an option form. They say that this option form was not produced at the time and its existence has not been proven since.

The decades since have been packed with high court cases, protests, and countless correspondences with politicians, which have become increasingly complicated by the ever rotating doors of government ministers and local TDs.

The relevant government departments have changed roles and titles over the past decades, further complicating the process for the workers.

Last week, a public meeting took place at Roanmore Social Centre, attended by a large cohort of former Crystal workers, many of whom have now reached pension age.

Member of the Waterford Crystal Pension Action Group, Walter Croke, who worked with Waterford Crystal for 27 years, addressed the crowd.

A former master glassblower, Mr. Croke explained in depth the ever expanding quagmire of legal cases, government interaction and various parties who have been been involved throughout the years.

Also during the meeting, the next steps of the fight for justice were outlined.

What’s happening next?

Progress remains slow, however the group maintain that pressure will be kept on government.

Being planned, is a demonstration outside the Dail, and possible picketing outside local TD constituency offices.

It is also intended that Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald will once again raise the issue on the floor of the Dáil, as she did last year.

During the meeting, it was proposed that every individual who was present submit a personalised email or letter to Simon Harris asking for their own option form to be delivered to them.

“We’re not making a whole lot of progress,”  Mr. Croke said on the night.

“We’re being stonewalled by government and they’ve been stonewalling us for a long time. It looks like the government are saying there’s nothing they can do for us.

“And so Europe may be the next step.” 

Going to Europe 

While the situation stalls somewhat in Ireland, the workers are planning in the interim to take their case to Europe.

The workers are planning to raise the issue via the European Petitions Committee.

April 1990: 2,300 workers at the Waterford Crystal factories in Waterford city and Dungarvan went on strike today, and there are no plans for talks to end the dispute.
April 1990: 2,300 workers at the Waterford Crystal factories in Waterford city and Dungarvan went on strike today, and there are no plans for talks to end the dispute.

Mr. Croke explained to the Waterford News and Star: “We’ve been shackled because we are all nearly pensioners so we haven’t got the money to take on a legal case.

“But we think we’ve found a way now through the European Petitions Committee.

“We can explain our problem to them and they will consider if it’s a case that will be passed onto the European Commission. There would be little or no cost involved.” 

Why Europe?

The context of their case in Europe goes back to 1980, when Ireland entered into a European agreement which aimed to protect members of pension schemes.

“The directions Ireland got were to set up a fund that would be there in case anybody had a problem,” Mr Croke said.

“However, Ireland in their wisdom, did not set up a fund. Britain also did not set up a fund and the Netherlands did not set up a fund.

"They did not carry out the directives of Europe and that’s the basis of our current case."

The Irish government's failure to set up the fund left the workers stranded following the redundancy of the company 

Political frustration 

Over the years, there has been regular correspondence with local TDs and Ministers.

A breakthrough was made last year, when Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald raised the worker’s issue on the floor of the Dáil.

“They are very angry and they believe, with good reason, that they have never gotten a fair hearing,” she said.

“The workers say the company misinformed them by offering them only one pension option, that is, the return of their pension contributions.

“The workers say they have never received any paperwork whatsoever outlining all of their options. Surely if proof exists of options being afforded to them, it should be produced but it has not been. 

"I ask the Taoiseach to intervene in this very serious ongoing saga.” 

Then Taoiseach Simon Harris agreed to a meeting with a group of the former workers.

He met them alongside current presidential candidate, and then Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys.

Mr. Croke told the News & Star last week: “The idea of meeting Simon Harris and Heather Humphreys was for them to produce a copy of the options that they claimed we had signed. 

"We know for a fact that there was 445 people identified by the pension provider that did not receive these option forms."

To little surprise amongst the workers, the Taoiseach and Minister Humphreys were unable to produce signed option forms.

During the meeting, the Taoiseach also said he would speak further with the Attorney General.

Again, no satisfactory outcome was reached for the workers after this correspondence.

The fight continues

Mr. Croke gave an impassioned and informative breakdown of events to the cohort of attendees at the meeting last week.

Everyone in the room seemed on the same page.

Mr. Croke said: “As far as we're concerned it has been proven thus far that we were wronged out of a pension.

"We’re just trying to get the government to accept that fact and take up the tab. 

“We’re continuing to pursue this and questions have to continue to be asked.”

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