Another batch of jobs lost

rasper

More doom and gloom I'm afraid my heart goes out to the 200+ families and the trips to the overcrowded social welfare office, one does wonder how many
more losses are to be had in waterford and how they will be replaced.




Off the independent, this morning

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178 jobs to go at Waterford electronics plant

Thursday June 25 2009
An electronics plant in Waterford has announced plans to close its operation next year with the loss of 178 jobs.

ABB Transformers told workers this morning that the Tycor facility would be shut down from next March.

The company is blaming the decision on a decline in orders and a lack of potential business in the market.

A consultation process is underway with unions and employees to decide on a compensation package.

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mike65

Just heard the RTE report, it was rather unfortunate in its scripting. It shoved the losses here side by side with new jobs in Galway Cork Dublin and it sounded like "Hah ha ha youse lost your jobs!"

deisemum

Terrible news, I've just heard John Halligan on Newstalk.

fricatus

deisemum wrote: »

Terrible news, I've just heard John Halligan on Newstalk.

Good on him, getting on the radio to bat for Waterford. Of course that is his job, but maybe the realisation is dawning on our City Council members that this is what they need to be doing, all the time.

I hope to the Lord above that he mentioned the need for a university in Waterford.

deisemum

fricatus wrote: »

Good on him, getting on the radio to bat for Waterford. Of course that is his job, but maybe the realisation is dawning on our City Council members that this is what they need to be doing, all the time.

I hope to the Lord above that he mentioned the need for a university in Waterford.

He was very good. I think it was Eamonn Keane who mentioned some report that Waterford should move away from manufacturing type jobs and John Halligan stressed that Waterford keeps getting overlooked, that we don't have radiotherapy, only just got the 2nd bridge and that we don't have a university and that if we had a university it would attract a lot of investment and then Waterford would be able to move away from manufacturing and create more high level jobs.

He also said Martin Cullen and the second senator (Brendan Kenneally but he didn't mention his name) should get off their backsides.

fricatus

deisemum wrote: »

He was very good. I think it was Eamonn Keane who mentioned some report that Waterford should move away from manufacturing type jobs and John Halligan stressed that Waterford keeps getting overlooked, that we don't have radiotherapy, only just got the 2nd bridge and that we don't have a university and that if we had a university it would attract a lot of investment and then Waterford would be able to move away from manufacturing and create more high level jobs.

He also said Martin Cullen and the second senator (Brendan Kenneally but he didn't mention his name) should get off their backsides.

Fair play to him. We berate our city councillors (and quite rightly so) when they're silent on the issues that matter (no. 1 being the university), but credit where credit is due!

renraw

Is there no end in sight? Its getting worse in this town by the week! that Martin Cullen lad is just useless! 180 people out of work like that....:(

Nolanger

You don't have to be George Lee to realise that a factory city like Waterford would suffer heavily in recession. Don't think a university could change this - lots of people graduating with useless Arts degrees. Might keep the brightest young people in the city but we also need others with funds capable of starting up new industry and businesses (Monica Leech ). Personally I think Waterford is now fu*ked and will probably never recover. Even if we eventually have a strong economic recovery it will be the other parts of the country that will gain first.

fricatus

Nolanger wrote: »

You don't have to be George Lee to realise that a factory city like Waterford would suffer heavily in recession. Don't think a university could change this - lots of people graduating with useless Arts degrees.

The whole reason we need the university is that it will be a driver in moving Waterford away from being just a factory town.

Nolanger wrote: »

Might keep the brightest young people in the city but we also need others with funds capable of starting up new industry and businesses (Monica Leech ).

It's all about holding on to our best and brightest wherever possible, and attracting people in from outside. We're always going to lose people to Dublin, but I know of one family of very bright people - 5 children in all, aged from 27 to 40, and they're all in Dublin. When the parents are gone, that will be the end of them in Waterford. Jesus Christ, that makes me sad!

A university would at least give us a fighting chance of holding onto one or two of them. And you're right about funding, but money will always follow where it can make a return, and if the social, educational and physical infrastructure are in place here, the money will follow it in.

Nolanger wrote: »

Personally I think Waterford is now fu*ked and will probably never recover. Even if we eventually have a strong economic recovery it will be the other parts of the country that will gain first.

... those "other parts of the country", you can bet your bottom dollar, will be Dublin, Cork and Galway, and to a lesser extent Limerick. There's nothing that Galway or Limerick have over Waterford other than being university cities. See the link?

well butty

fricatus wrote: »

... those "other parts of the country", you can bet your bottom dollar, will be Dublin, Cork and Galway, and to a lesser extent Limerick. There's nothing that Galway or Limerick have over Waterford other than being university cities. See the link?

And more proactive politicians!!

Odats

fricatus wrote: »

The whole reason we need the university is that it will be a driver in moving Waterford away from being just a factory town.




It's all about holding on to our best and brightest wherever possible, and attracting people in from outside. We're always going to lose people to Dublin, but I know of one family of very bright people - 5 children in all, aged from 27 to 40, and they're all in Dublin. When the parents are gone, that will be the end of them in Waterford. Jesus Christ, that makes me sad!

A university would at least give us a fighting chance of holding onto one or two of them. And you're right about funding, but money will always follow where it can make a return, and if the social, educational and physical infrastructure are in place here, the money will follow it in.




... those "other parts of the country", you can bet your bottom dollar, will be Dublin, Cork and Galway, and to a lesser extent Limerick. There's nothing that Galway or Limerick have over Waterford other than being university cities. See the link?

I read on the Sunday Business post last week that thay carried out a report which stated that there is actually too many universities in the Republic and are pushing for consolidation. This was an EU report afaik. It was in an article between link up agreements between DCU,NUIM and RCSI and another between TCD and UCD. So we can say that any hopes for university will be non existent.


More clout in the Dail and in the Govt. Cullen is only a yes boy. Realistically what major benefits have we got from his ministerial status, radiotherapy "Not in a public hospital", New schools that have been more than 10 yrs in waiting e.g. Mount Sion Secondary, Tramore, All the prefab primary schools "Eh none". Road and Bridges after 20years when all the other boys towns were sorted. What did we get E Voting Scandals, Helicopter fiasco's and you probably no the rest won't mention for other things. Kenneally what does he do SFA. John Deasy cast aside by party. Brian O'Shea sometimes on radio but very tepid. Senator Cummins is more the time falling asleep in the Senate.

mad man

:mad:I was absolutely ****ing enraged when I saw the news today about ABB and the subsequent jobs announcement in Cork,Galway and Dublin:mad:

As far as the IDA is concerned these seem to be the only three places in the country.Its obvious that the IDA can't bring high profile jobs announcements every backwater but for **** sake these places can't be the only places in the country they can atract investment to.If they can bring Genzyme to Waterford then they can bring a lot more.

We need to get our **** together and organise a coherent political strategy so we're ready for the next election.

Nolanger

fricatus wrote: »

... those "other parts of the country", you can bet your bottom dollar, will be Dublin, Cork and Galway, and to a lesser extent Limerick. There's nothing that Galway or Limerick have over Waterford other than being university cities. See the link?

Don't forget Dundalk and Drogheda - slowing catching up on Waterford in terms of population size. They're on the profitable Dublin - Belfast route and could be in line for economic recovery funding before the South East!

JupiterKid

Now is not the time for despair and pessimism, but for planning the best route forward for the city. Waterford has a lot going for it - the new M9 motorway link to Dublin is imminent, as is the Bypass. Waterford is also the focus of the South East and has WIT, the people of the city (its biggest asset) and the Regional Hospital.

In fact, Waterford could form one end of an expanded Dublin-Belfast economic corridor called the Eastern Corridor and gain the advantages that being located at one end the Eastern Corridor of Ireland would ensue.

Waterford lost out, in investment terms, to places like Galway and Cork over the past 30 years. Just look at the state of the (soon to be defunct thank God) N9 road. Large lorries can't even pass through Thomastown FFS and it's not much more than a goat track for much of its length. No wonder so many firms weren't willing to invest there!:mad::( I think people should "look back in anger" at how the city was neglected.:mad:

Waterford way down on the list of places to improve but in terms of infrastructure 2009 will see a giant leap forward for Waterford.:D Change for the better can happen if the denizens of this, the oldest city in Ireland, want it to. Don't expect the politicans to deliver (I never have...) and instead get up and start some new enterprise.

cassette50

ABB and Michael Jackson in one day.........life is a bitch.

Before anyone complains- I recently lost my job so I'm in the same boat.

AdMMM

Some people have no idea just how badly the "brain drain" is affecting Waterford. Of the 50 or so people in my Leaving Cert class, 10 got over 400 points. All 10 of those are now studying outside of Waterford. While the Leaving Cert is by no means a definitive determining factor of intelligence and ability, it's a very good early indicator. Waterford, as a city, simply cannot afford to let all it's brightest potential move out of the county. I read a report, which admittedly was a few years a go, which found that over 70% (think it was around 73%) of students who move out of Waterford to study don't return to the City for employment after finishing their degree.

In saying this, can you blame those who score highly in their leaving cert for wanting to study in universities? I mean Universities have the funding to attract the most accomplished of professors and lecturers, most universities have a certain prestige associated with them and a university degree is perceived (whether rightly or wrongly) to offer better job opportunities.

Waterford simply cannot compete with Universities in trying to win over the first choices of CAO applicants. The relatively low CAO points requirement for its courses are proof of this.

To try and tie in my post into the topic, we currently have an IT thats main focus (or brief as set out by the Government) is to primarily provide suitably qualified persons for rapidly declining and permanently crippled industries in the City. The manufacturing industry in Waterford will never be the same again and we simply aren't equipped to develop and upskill our workforce (and students) for sectors that will emerge from this recession.

Projections are being forecast for the the end of the recession. I'm afraid Waterford won't be pulling itself out of it anywhere near even the most conservative of estimates without drastic change in the city.

alpha2zulu

Now is not the time for despair and pessimism, but for planning the best route forward for the city. Waterford has a lot going for it - the new M9 motorway link to Dublin is imminent, as is the Bypass. Waterford is also the focus of the South East and has WIT, the people of the city (its biggest asset) and the Regional Hospital.

How about the thought of becoming slightly more Boston rather than Berlin.
Without dragging up specific examples the Union stronghold in the city is doing it no favours.
If your a CEO of a multi national why would you risk playing games with the bearded brethern here when a much more pro-business enviroment is perceived as existing in many of Waterfords rival cities/towns.

The union movement only success in the past 15years has been to help copperfasten Waterford's fall further down the national pecking order when its comes to private sector investment.

Dilbert75

alpha2zulu wrote: »

The union movement only success in the past 15years has been to help copperfasten Waterford's fall further down the national pecking order when its comes to private sector investment.

I think you may just be right.

Nolanger

Dilbert75 wrote: »

I think you may just be right.

One of Ireland's top sectors - computer software - has almost no union involvement.

mike65

renraw wrote: »

Is there no end in sight? Its getting worse in this town by the week! that Martin Cullen lad is just useless! 180 people out of work like that....:(

Do you want Cullen to buy up ABB transformers? Nothing he can do about the market share falling.

Cabaal

mike65 wrote: »

Do you want Cullen to buy up ABB transformers? Nothing he can do about the market share falling.

I'd have to agree with this, the only way the gov could have saved ABB was to keep throwing money at it to keep it afloat, the company would have went on not getting enough sales and making losses.

If a company is not making enough money to stay afloat then its not doing anyone any good to keep that failing company alive, Waterford glass is another example of this

rasper

everybody knows that the day of the manufacturing / call centre / construction related jobs are numbered , and the taxpayer can't be called upon to bail out an unprofitable business , the problem lies that Waterford is far too heavily reliant on these industries and we paled in comparisons to other locations in attracting more suitable and safer employment.
A few big closures will almost decimate it into an unemployment blackspot , if it is not regarded as such yet

Partizan

Have it on good source from a friend who works in Bausch & Lomb that 200 more jobs there are on the line.

Sully

Partizan wrote: »

Have it on good source from a friend who works in Bausch & Lomb that 200 more jobs there are on the line.

Just a note; We no longer are allowing any speculation, of any kind, on B&L or anyother company based here. This is simply because it has caused trouble for us in the past and for people publishing such comments (externally to Boards). Thanks

irishdaytrader

It looks like Waterford will have a job on its hands to attract new business into the area.

It really is a pity that there are always a small few that destroy chances for others, much like has happened to Waterford in the past.

In Russia, you are now able to speak and reply to comments put to you, seems like we are going a bit backwards here, must be our education system?

So be it.

Nolanger

Actually it's the brain drain.

well butty

irishdaytrader wrote: »

It looks like Waterford will have a job on its hands to attract new business into the area.

It really is a pity that there are always a small few that destroy chances for others, much like has happened to Waterford in the past.

In Russia, you are now able to speak and reply to comments put to you, seems like we are going a bit backwards here, must be our education system?

So be it.

In what regard/ context??

alpha2zulu

In what regard/ context??

Yeah I'd be interested to know this too.

Are we talking about: http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0130/wedgwood.html

or

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0513/banks.html

deiseman21

meetings begin @5.30 just in time for 6 o clock news

Not The Real Scarecrow

Prob won't be much longer before the whole place closes.Such a shame to see this happening to so many factories that were once a sure bet for a job for life.sympathy goes to all the workers facing the worry and pain that goes with this crap.I don't know if its just me but I think alot of places are using the economic down turn as an excuse to ride the workers.I've heard of a few places that have laid people off that really haven't been affected and that are still making good profits but for some reason or other have used the current climate as a chance to lay off workers.

Sully

No discussion on anything until its in the media. Ill add this to the charter as not everyone is aware. After the last time we had a thread like this, there was a lot of anger and complaints heading a few directions. As a result, no speculation will be allowed until its confirmed and in the media. Sorry, but thats the way it has to be due to the sheer amount of crap that has been posted.

Topic Closed

road_high

Mention of Bausch and Lomb job losses on the news there. That factory needs all the support it can get to save all those jobs.

jonnyfingers

mfitzy wrote: »

Mention of Bausch and Lomb job losses on the news there. That factory needs all the support it can get to save all those jobs.

Exactly. Anyone wearing contact lenses buy Bausch and Lomb from now on! Just ask your optician.

Also if the dollar strengthens against the Euro that would be a big help also.

Aquos76

Sully, I hope you dont mind but now that it has been confirmed I am reopening it and also merged it with existing jobs lost thread for discussions of what has been confirmed only. Any speculation about any further rumours will lead to the thread been closed again

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0630/jobs.html

deiseman21

Aquos76 wrote: »

Any speculation about any further rumours will lead to the thread been closed again

Their's never any smoke without fire

Whats the point of the internet without rumour

Sully

deiseman21 wrote: »

Their's never any smoke without fire

Whats the point of the internet without rumour

Perhaps you should read the charter. Anyway, after the last time and on getting advise from the admins - the decision is final. Rumour can kill a business a lot quicker you know.

Any issues, or comments, fire me a PM and ill see what can be done (if anything) but lets keep things on track here and per charter.

Partizan

Sully wrote: »

Perhaps you should read the charter. Anyway, after the last time and on getting advise from the admins - the decision is final. Rumour can kill a business a lot quicker you know.

Any issues, or comments, fire me a PM and ill see what can be done (if anything) but lets keep things on track here and per charter.

Yeah, dont be talking down de economy.

Seriously, are you Brian Cowen?

Sully

Partizan wrote: »

Seriously, are you Brian Cowen?

Yes.