Employees at Waterford Crystal face an uncertain future after news today that 280 jobs at the Kilbarry plant could be at risk, while pharmaceutical firm Wyeth today said it was seeking 100 job losses from its Newbridge plant.
A company spokesman would not be drawn on the issue but confirmed that "scheduled talks" were ongoing with union representatives throughout the day.
About 200 of 492 redundancies still remain to be made from planned job losses announced at Kilbarry last November as part of a restructuring plan.
The retention of the company's manufacturing in Waterford has been increasingly doubtful following a series of developments in the last 12 months.
A State guarantee on a €39m loan was last May denied, while the company had debts in excess of €470 million and had a significant deficit in its pension fund.
Parent company Waterford Wedgwood ran out of credit with banks due to covenants on existing loans and the company found borrowing difficult to secure during the credit crunch.
Government's denial of the guarantee came weeks after management announced that the plant would close for up to three weeks during the summer in a drastic effort to save money.
Sir Anthony O'Reilly and his brother-in-law Peter Goulandris have spent about €250 million in recent years in rescue measures aimed at keeping Waterford Wedgewood afloat and €75 million was raised at the company's AGM.
Union officials were not available for comment this evening.
It has been reported that workers will learn of possible job losses at a meeting in the city on Thursday morning, while a meeting between workers and union officials will follow in the afternoon.
Should the job cuts go ahead, about 70 manufacturing jobs will remain at the Kilbarry plant, while 55 employees will be employed in the Waterford Crystal visitor's centre at Kilbarry.
Meanwhile, pharmaceutical company Wyeth has also confirmed it is shedding 100 jobs from its plant at Newbridge.
In a statement this evening Wyeth said it planned to reduce its permanent workforce to approximately 1,050, a reduction of 100, due to a decline in volumes and automation.
Siptu , which represents 110 permanent and 50 temporary staff at the plant, said it was concerned at the proposed cuts, and emphasised its opposition to compulsory redundancies. The union will meet with Wyeth management tomorrow afternoon.
Overall Wyeth Medica Ireland employs 3,300 staff in Ireland at five locations.
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