Union representatives of 1,100 workers at Waterford Crystal are due to meet management this afternoon to discuss a redundancy package for the 485 set to lose their jobs.
ATWGU regional industrial organiser Walter Cullen will meet shop stewards representing workers at the plants in Kilbarry in Waterford city and Dungarvan at lunchtime ahead of a 2pm meeting with management.
It is proposed that the two plants would cease operation by the end of June. The management's negotiating team is likely to be led by Frank Hickey, human resource director, and Colin McGookin, director of manufacturing.
An initial meeting was held last Thursday.
Staff at the Dungarvan plant have been told that the redundancy package would be six weeks' pay for every year of employment including their statutory entitlements. This would be capped at two years' salary, an offer the ATWGU says is unacceptable.
The union, which represents the vast majority staff at Waterford Crystal workforce, said it would not agree to assist the restructuring without a strategy acceptable to all members.
Some 375 of the job losses will come from the closure of the Dungarvan plant and 110 from the company's crystal production plant at Kilbarry. Manufacturing will be transferred to the remaining Waterford plant.
