Workers from Waterford Wedgwood staged a protest at the offices of Deloitte and Touche in Dublin on Tuesday, which lasted several hours. Approximately 12 workers protested at the reception area of the Deloitte and Touche's headquarters after Deloitte partner David Carson closed the Waterford's Kilbarry plant last Friday, which prompted a sit in by workers last weekend. After entering the building mid morning on Friday, the workers were told to leave as they were trespassing. Gardai (police) were called and the protest ended. Deloitte and Touch were appointed as receivers of Waterford Wedgwood in January. Tuesday's protest, which, according to Union Unite which represents the Waterford workers, was to inform the 1,000 plus Deloitte workers in Ireland, how Carson poorly managed the situation in Waterford Crystal last Friday. Carson shocked staff at plant in Kilbarry on Friday when he halted manufacturing and said 480 people would be laid off despite talks with potential U.S. buyers. Speaking after a meeting with senior partners Pat Cullen and David Deasy at Deloitte, Waterford worker, Tom Hogan said, "We left them in no doubt as to how we feel about the actions of their partner David Carson in dumping 480 people. "We put it to them that Deloitte is interested in one thing only, making it Waterford Crystal as attractive as possible to who they sell it to and to increase their own fee. "They have absolutely no concern for individuals or families that are suffering as a result of this. We've made our protest here today we'll be returning to Waterford now to join our colleagues in the factory to continue the occupation. "We emphasized to them we won't be going away anywhere soon...we are in for the long haul. "If no prospective buyer turns up we expect this government to take this into public ownership on behalf of the people of the south east region and of the country." There are two U.S. private equity groups currently interested in Waterford Wedgwood, Clarion Capital and KPS Capital Partners.
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