The future of 1,250 jobs in the southeast hangs in the balance as unions and management at Bausch + Lomb face off against each other.
Siptu is threatening industrial action from December 21st after rejecting proposals from both the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court.
Instead, it is looking for for a restoration of conditions that prevailed back in 2014 before unions agreed to an €18.5 million package of cuts that saw 200 staff let go and a pay cut of 7.5 per cent as well as a new, lower pay grade for temporary staff and other measures.
Management said earlier this week that the Waterford plant was now viable, "having come through some very challenging times in recent years". But it has adopted a hard line on the prospect of full restoration of pre-2014 pay and conditions.
“The company will not be considering calls for ‘full restoration’ as this would pose serious threats to the current and future success of the plant,” it said.
Following a ballot of members at the weekend, Siptu is planning a series of one-hour stoppages in Christmas week and a ban on working overtime at the plant which produces contact lenses and eyecare solutions.
The company, which is owned by troubled Canadian pharma group Valeant, responded Wednesday morning by imposing a deadline at the end of next week for agreement on a pay deal. Otherwise, it warned, it will take a series of measures that will put 220 jobs at risk.
It also announced a “strategic review of production lines at other locations”, raising the prospect of moving operations from Waterford to other plants.
The company signalled that staff would be informed of “additional operational actions” in the coming days and warned expressly that the continuation of industrial action into the new year “will lead to consideration of further actions by the company”.
In light of the strategic reviews announced yesterday, there are concerns that Valeant could pull its investment, closing the Waterford plant
The Labour Court recommendation rejected by the union, had suggested pay increases of roughly 5 per cent over the next two years among a package of measures.
Siptu said last night that it was making no comment on the management actions pending a meeting with members at the plant Thursday morning.
