KWIK SAVE JOBS BLOW (From Warrington Guardian)

KWIK SAVE JOBS BLOW

THE Kwik Save distribution depot in Winsford is set to close within the next year, it was annnounced last week.

After a long-awaited meeting between bosses and union representatives on Friday morning, owners Somerfield confirmed that there will be no long-term investment in Winsford.

The Guardian revealed last week that more than 40 workers had already applied for voluntary redundancy, but all of the depot's 206 employees could soon be jobless.

And the uncertainty which has loomed over staff for the last few months could continue, as no definite date for closure has been set.

Jeff Joyce, of the Transport and General Workers Union, which represents the Kwik Save workers on the industrial estate, said: "We have been told it will close no later than the early part of next year so we need to sit down and discuss the implications.

"People will want to leave to find other jobs, but I think the delay in the closure is to give the company time to reorganise, not to help the workers.

"People are dispirited with the time it's taken and in the end, the decision hasn't helped us."

SInce Somerfield merged with Kwik Save last march, they have always said that a decision on the future of their distribution depots would take some time.

Somerfield spokesman Pete Williams has promnised that

the company will do its best to look after the workers, as 300 jobs are to be created in their overall strategy.

He said: "We have announced a multi-million pound investment over the next three years, which will involve the closure of 15 depots, and the building of four centres. We are creating 1,500 new jobs and 1,200 are likely to go but this is dependant on where we locate new centres.

"We're looking to transfer staff from closing depots to the new places we are investing in. We are also promising staff they will get every assistance in finding other jobs either within the company or with other employers."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.