Five years after they lost their jobs Waterford Crystal workers are still waiting to receive tens of thousands of euro in pension entitlements to which the European Court of Justice said they are entitled.
In April 2013, the European Court returned a ruling that the pensions of up to 1,700 former Waterford Crystal workers must be protected. But the workers have still not been given their pension entitlements.
“It is now over five years since Waterford Crystal workers lost not only their jobs but also their pensions. It is unacceptable that even after a European Court of Justice ruling the Irish State has failed to protect the pension entitlements of our members,” said Unite Regional Secretary, Jimmy Kelly.
Waterford Workers’ Party Councillor, Davy Walsh, said: “Since this Government came into power it has consistently shown contempt to the working class people of this country. But the mishandling of the just claims of the Waterford Crystal workers in relation to receiving their pensions beats Banagher.”
He added: “Does this Government not realise that the granting of their pensions to the Waterford Crystal pensioners would not only be just but would boost the local economy with an influx of cash.”
