| WATERFORD CRYSTAL is in pretty bad shape these days.
For over a year I think, workers have been working short weeks.
There was no annual Xmas bonus this year (a historically huge
sum) There have been huge redundancies (I think voluntary so
far) The problem is probably two fold - the world recession
and the influence of cheaper crystal - America is the largest
market for Waterford, and its not buying...
Another cause of unrest is that Waterford Crystal management is
supposedly having (or wants to have?) some of the work done in
cheaper european countries (labor) - there have even be talks
(several times) about closing the plant in Waterford, moving it
to (some (ex) eastern block country)
Waterford will be in SERIOUS trouble if "the glass" closes...better
rush out and buy those missing pieces just in case!
Ann
(P.S. those of u who got the Irish Emigrant this a.m. will know
that unemployment in Ireland has topped the 300,000 mark
for the first time 8-(
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