UNION bosses have reacted with dismay to an ICI proposal to sell off its maintenance division, claiming it leaves workers at the Runcorn site in limbo.

The chemical giant has invited bids for its Task and Overhauls Group (TOG) and Weston Workshops.

But the GMB union says the move has caused "grave concern and dismay" and has accused ICI management of "undermining" the 181-strong maintenance workforce.

Explaining the decision to sell, ICI manufacturing manager Russ Whelan said that restructuring at the Runcorn site meant less work for the TOG.

Mr Whelan said: "A new owner will be able to offer these experienced teams better future opportunities."

He promised that employees and union representatives would be consulted, adding that 40 TOG workers would be transferred to Chlor-Chemicals, one of the ICI concerns at Runcorn, to enable the company to maintain a skilled in-house back-up.

GMB official Glyn Thornton believed the move left TOG workers in a difficult position.

"The effect of today's announcement is that 180 workers face an uncertain and insecure future. It raises more questions than it answers," he said.

Mr Thornton believes that the fate of TOG will be shared by other parts of ICI's Runcorn operation, branding the sale "one more piece in the jigsaw".

"We believe that management has persistently undermined its own direct maintenance workforce in order to transfer the work to outside contractors. This announcement reinforces that view," said Mr Thornton.

He added that his union would be seeking guarantees from ICI on the nature of the sale and staff transfers.

ICI hopes to conclude the sale by Spring 1999.

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