All 162 members of staff at a Mid Wales technology centre have voted to take a voluntary 10 per cent temporary pay cut in a bid to help the company survive the current global recession.

Workers at the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), in Machynlleth, have agreed to take the 9.9 per cent reduction in wages for four months from December 2010 until March 2011.

The centre employs 97 full-time and 65 part-time or seasonal employees at an eco-centre at Pantperthog dedicated to demonstrating and teaching sustainable development.

External relations manager Paul Allen said: “Like other charities we are facing losses in income because of the recession.

“We saw a slight drop in visitor numbers to 50,000 last year but our problems are driven by the global situation.

“The staff voted to take a voluntary temporary pay cut of 9.9 per cent across the board, which is a testament of their support for the centre’s vision.” said Mr Allen, who added that the company was looking at ways to consolidate its position.