Bye bye Woolies?

It's looking increasing unlikely that a buyer will be found for Woolworths, as reports begin to emerge that all of the retailers UK stores will be closed by the middle of January.

It looks like the majority of the 31,000 staff will be looking for work by the 4th of January, although administrators Delloite are refusing to confirm or deny these reports.

With high street stalwarts such as Woolies, MFI and Zavvi (formerly Virgin) collapsing, it looks unlikely that brisk Christmas trading will be enough to heal the beleaguered retail sector.

Their demise is obviously being linked to the credit crunch, but is it solely to blame or is it just a form of euthanasia for out-dated business models?

Corus pay cut

Despite reports by the BBC and the Financial Times, Corus employees have not agreed to a 10% pay cut.

Speaking on 5live this morning, Community Union General Secretary Michael Leahy said that while discussions with Corus were ongoing, they had yet to agree a course of action to safe guard jobs at the Llanwern site.

-----update------

I've just had confirmation from a contact at Corus that no agreement has been reached.

Sony wields axe

Today Sony has announced plans to shed 8,000 jobs and close ten per cent of their manufacturing plants.

560 staff are employed at Sony's Pencoed 'Technology Centre' (420 by Sony, 140 in linked businesses).

The Echo is reporting the jobs are still under threat, although when CJS spoke to a Unite spokesman we were told Sony had confirmed the plant wouldn't be affected.

Mixed messages. Not much comfort for workers.

Job cuts at Swansea based factory

A union official at Linamar car parts factory on the outskirts of Swansea claims 208 of the 350 staff look likely to lose their jobs when the company moves production to Mexico.

More info...

In  other employment news, a report released today shows that Welsh workers earn 14% less than the UK national average.

More...

 

WAG announces back to work scheme

The Welsh Assembly has announced a £19m project to get the long-term unemployed back to work.

The money, which includes £10.5m from the European Social Fund, will be spent on getting nearly 3,000 people back into work.

They'll be given access to a case worker, who will provide guidance and support on their 'journey back into the job market'.

More info...

Confirmation of Tax Office cuts

HMRC has now confirmed the closure of 9 Tax and Customs offices across Wales, at the expense of 370 staff. Two in Chester will close affecting a further 100 staff.

Details...

Offices closing:

• Crown Buildings, Aberystwyth
• Tŷ Glyn, Bangor
• Government Buildings, Brecon
• Tremains House, Bridgend
• Tŷ Myrddin, Carmarthen
• Government Buildings, Haverfordwest
• Custom House, Pembroke Dock
• Tŷ'r Felin, Pontypool
• Llys Anwyl, Rhyl

Solar Panel maker closes Valleys plant

120 staff at Kingspan Thermomax in Blackwood (nr. Tredegar) could face redundancy as the solar heating panel manufacturer is expected to move production to their Northern Irish headquarters.

Staff have apparently been given the option of re-location.

More...

400 Tax Office Jobs to go?

Union bosses fear the shake up of Tax Offices across Wales (see earlier post) could result in 400 redundancies.

An announcement is expected later today.

300 Call Centre Staff 'Re-trained and Re-deployed'

Directory enquiries service 118-118 has announced the closure of one of its call centres in Cardiff. Staff will be offered the chance to relocate to one of its other offices in Cardiff or Swansea.

300 staff will be affected by the closure. We'll have to wait to see how many take up the offer of relocation.

Hoover Meeting

Two meetings are being organised to discuss the proposed 337 redundancies at the Hoover factory, as well as other job losses in the region.

Wednesday 10th December at 7.30pm Glebeland ClubGlebeland StMerthyr

Thursday 11th December at 7.30pm Royal HotelSt Mary's StreetCardiff

More...

Aluminium jobs at risk

The future of 450 workers at Novelis Aluminum works is up in the air after bosses spent yesterday talking to union chiefs about how to cope with falling demand.

Executives from the Swiss based company were at the plant in Rogerstone, Newport to discuss making the plant a viable operation, but they refused to rule out closure.

The plant's closure would be another substantial blow to manufacturing in South Wales.

More...

Rhodri Morgan urged to help save jobs

While yesterday's announcements by Credit Suisse, HSBC and Halfords should have only a limited impact in South Wales, an announcement is expected later this week on the future of 10 HMRC offices in Wales.

Among those likely to be affected are offices in Brecon, Bridgend, Merthyr and Pontypool (...EU Objective One areas).

In anticipation of this announcement PCS Regional Organiser Jeff Evans has written to Rhodri Morgan saying...

"“We urge WAG to do everything it can to press the case for the retention of these offices and to avert a potentially calamitous decision to close them.

Many of these offices are based in some of our most deprived communities.

The impact of the office closures will be felt more widely than the individuals employed there. It will also impact on local businesses and services at a difficult time.

It is perplexing that a UK Government department should be removing Government jobs from our poorest communities in contrast to your Government, which is doing the reverse.”