Firm to axe 85 jobs
A Telford car accessories firm is to axe 85 jobs over the next six months, it was revealed today. The redundancies will be made at Johnson Controls Automotive at Stafford Park 6.
Bosses confirmed the manufacturing positions would go at the plant, which makes seats for vehicles.
They are today negotiating with Transport and General Workers Union representatives and hope they can achieve most of the losses through voluntary redundancies.
The jobs are set to go in phases with several workers leaving each month between October and February. Union officials say they are also confident they can negotiate redundancy packages for the staff.
Tony Brothell, regional industrial organiser for the union, said: "Our local shop stewards informed the membership yesterday.
"It's 85 jobs in total and there are further consultations taking place with management today and tomorrow.
"Johnson Controls are in the habit of providing redundancy packages, which is a good start, although we're obviously hoping to build on that.
"We'll be trying to reduce the impact of the redundancies in the talks over the next few days."
The decision was taken after the company lost a significant contract with BMW but Mr Brothell said it did not signal a particular downturn for Telford.
Johnson Controls closed its plant in Halesfield earlier this year axing nearly 150 jobs as the work was transferred to a plant at Leamington Spa.
At the time the move was said to be "devastating" for the work force.
