Bates And Öpik In Further Discussions Over Texplan Staff Cuts

5.47.52pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 10th Jul 2006

Mick Bates AM and Lembit Öpik MP have continued their discussions with Texplan management and employees following the announcement of 41 job losses at their Mochdre site.

Mick Bates, AM for Montgomeryshire, said:

"I'd like to reiterate my extreme disappointment at the loss of these jobs- especially because we were told by management on a previous visit that the short-runs and quick turnaround sector was a competitive market for them to be in.

"It's clear that the staff aren't complaining about the job cuts themselves. The issue seems to revolve around long service payments to accompany the redundancy terms, as has happened in the past.

"We understand that the average service of those being made redundant is over twenty years. Furthermore, the last time there were redundancies these long service payments were made despite the fact Laura Ashley lost over a million pounds that year. The company is now in profit and a number of the employees feel it should recognise the long service of these staff and treat them as they've done on previous occasions.

"Neither I nor Lembit have any authority to enforce such a settlement on the Company, as we don't have a remit within the company itself. However, I would hope that there's a frank dialogue - so that the options and what's possible and what, if anything , the company will consider, are absolutely clear to all concerned."

Lembit Öpik, MP for Montgomeryshire, added:

"So far I've not had any indication that the Company is willing to offer a long service payment to staff who are being redundant. Having considered the options it's hard to know what we can do to alter this intention.

"We've agreed with the management that I can visit the staff on Monday 17th July, and I will certainly be doing that. I don't want to raise hopes that this will lead to the payment of that bonus, but I can confirm that my primary intention is to listen to staff concerns and convey those views to the company."