Union officials were today seeking crisis talks with bosses at GKN in Telford after plans to axe 150 jobs were announced.
The job cuts at the firm’s Hadley Castle Works are among more than 560 posts to go across the company’s operation nationally.

GKN said today a 90-day consultation would be carried out to determine exactly how many jobs would go at its autostructure arm in Telford.

The GMB and Unite unions are now planning to work with GKN to minimise the impact of the cuts.

Stefan Blasczyk, for Unite, said: “I have not received a copy of the HR1 (advance notice of redundancies). 

“However, if this is correct, it is not just about 150 jobs, it is about potentially 150 families and the demand for services and products within the local community which may be affected.

“I would welcome the fact, given the current economic climate, this is not a site closure.

“The collective trade unions will now attempt to work with GKN and hopefully 150 job losses can be avoided.”

Currently 730 people work at GKN Autostructures, which makes car structures, such as chassis, and has contracts with Land Rover, Toyota and Ford.

Keith Hodgkinson, GMB West Midlands senior organiser, said: “We are devastated with the news of a further loss of 150 jobs at the Telford site, coming on the back of 99 redundancies announced there in December.

“GMB officials, along with Unite, are seeking urgent talks with GKN Autostructures to minimise the impact of any compulsory redundancies.”

Workers at the plant said they were shocked at the number of jobs earmarked to go. Onkar Thiara, 54, a welder, said: “It is going to be awful for those just starting their families or with young families – it is going to be very difficult.”

Mick Palmer, a maintenance electrician, said: “I think, as upset as we are at  the news, we had probably prepared ourselves for it.”

A worker from the despatch department, said: “They forget to mention the hidden figures of all the agency people who have already had to leave earlier this year.”

By Lisa Rowley and Emma Black