More ceramics jobs under threat

Ceramics maker Waterford Wedgwood has confirmed another 96 jobs are at risk.

It said in August it was cutting 250 manufacturing jobs at the supply chain plant in Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent, and another 50 office posts in the area.

The latest round of proposed cuts would mainly affect its Barlaston plant, the company said.

The firm said it followed a downturn in the economy and a review to improve profitability. The Unity union said it was not "any great shock".

Workers could be offered voluntary redundancy, the company said.

'Bare minimum'

It said it would actively encourage a voluntary redundancy programme to "mitigate potential compulsory redundancy situations".

It said that the new cuts were part of a review of worldwide business operations.

A 30-day consultation has started over the latest positions under threat.

Consultation has been continuing over the other jobs which could go. The 50 office jobs at risk were at various sites in north Staffordshire.

Unity deputy general secretary Garry Oakes said: "The workforce must feel absolutely distraught. It's one announcement after another."

He said the union would enter into negotiations with the company as soon as possible to try to mitigate the job losses and keep compulsory redundancies to a "bare minimum".

Mr Oakes said the union's ceramic resource centre would talk to workers to help them find alternative jobs.

In August the firm said it would try to minimise job losses and "timely and decisive action" was required to return the group to profitability.

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