Today's most viewed
Newport workers 'in limbo' over redundancy threat
A DELAYED consultation on possible job cuts is leaving International Rectifier employees feeling in limbo,one worker says.
The company has said it cannot give a date for when it will tell its employees plans for cost savings at its Newport plant on Cardiff Road.
A spokeswoman would also not tell the Argus how many redundancies it may make.
The employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, said himself and his colleagues feel left in the dark.
"The atmosphere is very bad at the moment, we feel like we've been left in limbo," he said.
"We don't know whether to book holidays because we don't know whether we will still be here in the next few months.
"On the other hand people aren't sure whether to look for other work. There are a few who have been offered other positions but now don't know whether to take them up."
He said the company has asked employees for cost saving ideas.
"But we don't want to suggest anything because we don't know how many jobs it might save," said the worker.
A spokeswoman for IR said a consultation period on cost savings had been originally planned to finish on May 2, but has been extended.
"At the moment I can't give a date for when the consultation will end," she said.
He said management had previously stated between 20 and 100 people could lose their jobs at the plant, although IR would not give a figure for possible redundancies.
Currently 551 people are employed at the plant.
8:56am Friday 9th May 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: fatman, Newport on 12:38pm Fri 9 May 08
It doesn't seem to matter who owns this site people always lose their jobs, I was laid off from there when it was ESM Ltd and here we go again. I know people who work there and they say they are being forced to take holidays to cut costs. I hope it doesn't come to job losses but it seems inevitable.
It doesn't seem to matter who owns this site people always lose their jobs, I was laid off from there when it was ESM Ltd and here we go again. I know people who work there and they say they are being forced to take holidays to cut costs. I hope it doesn't come to job losses but it seems inevitable.
Posted by: DG, Newport on 5:29pm Fri 9 May 08
I'd suggest to the workers to make as many cost-saving suggestions as possible - it doesn't have to be things that will cost anyone their job, it can be things like identifying wastage (I know some companies use massive boxes with 6" worth of packing inside to send tiny components through the post), or using email to send correspondance rather than printing and posting it, or reducing subsidies on any canteen or social facilities you may have. The more suggestions you make, the more money you can put in the wage packet pot. Nobody else can know the company like you do - fight for your jobs and change things for the better at the same time. The Chinese character for disaster is made up of two separate characters - one represents crisis, the other opportunity.
Best of luck.
I'd suggest to the workers to make as many cost-saving suggestions as possible - it doesn't have to be things that will cost anyone their job, it can be things like identifying wastage (I know some companies use massive boxes with 6" worth of packing inside to send tiny components through the post), or using email to send correspondance rather than printing and posting it, or reducing subsidies on any canteen or social facilities you may have. The more suggestions you make, the more money you can put in the wage packet pot. Nobody else can know the company like you do - fight for your jobs and change things for the better at the same time. The Chinese character for disaster is made up of two separate characters - one represents crisis, the other opportunity.
Best of luck.
Posted by: mrs, Newport on 9:52pm Fri 9 May 08
It is disgusting the way they are keeping us waiting..it's like our lives are on hold!
It is disgusting the way they are keeping us waiting..it's like our lives are on hold!
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
