"They've been the victims of clear injustice."
That was the unanimous verdict of Waterford councillors yesterday as they agreed to write to the Minister for Social Protection on behalf of former Waterford Crystal workers.
A motion brought forward by Cllr. Donal Barry outlined how 450 former workers had been misinformed regarding their pension entitlements.
The motion read: “That the members of Waterford City and County Council request that the Minister for Social Protection and this present Government, initiate an independent review of how nearly 450 former employees of Waterford Crystal were misinformed concerning their future pension entitlement at the time of their redundancy in the company”.
Cllr. Barry addressed the meeting and said something must be done.
"Many of these workers had long service with the company. They are moving on in age and they deserve justice for the case to be listened to and taken seriously and for closure to be brought on this failure to provide their entitlements. In 32 years neither pension provider, pension scheme trustees or company have produced this document which they state the worker signed."
The motion was seconded by Labour Party Councillor Seamus Ryan.
"It doesn't even make sense when you think about it. Why would someone sign away their pension? Councillor Barry and I make the call here tonight that we as a council would write to the Minister and ask her to meet with the action group because the only way to resolve this issue once and for all, it's gone on too long now, is for people to sit around the table and trash it out until they come to a solution."
The motion was passed unanimously by councillors and will be circulated to the office of Minister Heather Humphreys.
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