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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Hundreds of print staff lose jobs | Hundreds of print staff lose jobs |
| (3 days later) | |
| Nearly 300 workers at a printers in Somerset have been told they have been made "redundant with immediate effect". | Nearly 300 workers at a printers in Somerset have been told they have been made "redundant with immediate effect". |
| All 287 workers at Butler and Tanner Printers Ltd in Frome received a letter on Saturday telling them the company is being liquidated. | |
| The news came as negotiations between the Unite union and Butler and Tanner were taking place at conciliation service ACAS in Bristol. | The news came as negotiations between the Unite union and Butler and Tanner were taking place at conciliation service ACAS in Bristol. |
| Unite said an average salary of £1,200 was due to each employee this month. | Unite said an average salary of £1,200 was due to each employee this month. |
| The letters received by staff stated that the company was "unable to invoice sufficient work to pay this month's wages" and that "strict security" had been imposed at the site. | The letters received by staff stated that the company was "unable to invoice sufficient work to pay this month's wages" and that "strict security" had been imposed at the site. |
| Parent company Media & Print Investments Plc (MPI) said the union's failure to resolve working practices meant finances had been withdrawn. | Parent company Media & Print Investments Plc (MPI) said the union's failure to resolve working practices meant finances had been withdrawn. |
| The union has shown utter contempt for its own members and Butler & Tanner Mike Dolan, MPI chairman | The union has shown utter contempt for its own members and Butler & Tanner Mike Dolan, MPI chairman |
| Chairman, Mike Dolan, said: "Shareholders were unwilling to pour good money down what they consider to be a drain and they declined to make further funding available. | Chairman, Mike Dolan, said: "Shareholders were unwilling to pour good money down what they consider to be a drain and they declined to make further funding available. |
| "Their [the union's] miscalculation has cost 300 people their jobs and sadly, 100 of those people were not even in the union | "Their [the union's] miscalculation has cost 300 people their jobs and sadly, 100 of those people were not even in the union |
| "The union has shown utter contempt for its own members and Butler & Tanner by unnecessarily publicising their strike threat in a crass attempt to exert pressure on the company. | "The union has shown utter contempt for its own members and Butler & Tanner by unnecessarily publicising their strike threat in a crass attempt to exert pressure on the company. |
| "That was an act of wilful economic vandalism which frightened off too many of our customers, suppliers and financiers." | "That was an act of wilful economic vandalism which frightened off too many of our customers, suppliers and financiers." |
| Mr Dolan said if the threat of industrial action had been lifted MPI would have funded the business through what is traditionally a quiet time for Butler and Tanner. | Mr Dolan said if the threat of industrial action had been lifted MPI would have funded the business through what is traditionally a quiet time for Butler and Tanner. |
| 'Despicable act' | 'Despicable act' |
| National officer for Unite Ann Field said: "Unite will be demanding recompense in full from the perpetrators of this despicable act sacrificing people's jobs and livelihoods. | National officer for Unite Ann Field said: "Unite will be demanding recompense in full from the perpetrators of this despicable act sacrificing people's jobs and livelihoods. |
| "Mike Dolan and former boss Andrew Hillman should be called to account for what they have done to the workers' jobs, their pensions and their community." | "Mike Dolan and former boss Andrew Hillman should be called to account for what they have done to the workers' jobs, their pensions and their community." |
| The management was still at the debating table on Friday and gave no indication the company was about to be closed, Ms Field said. | The management was still at the debating table on Friday and gave no indication the company was about to be closed, Ms Field said. |
| Butler and Tanner produces hardback colour books including those of Jamie Oliver, Delia Smith and Nigella Lawson. | Butler and Tanner produces hardback colour books including those of Jamie Oliver, Delia Smith and Nigella Lawson. |
| The closure will not have any impact on the other trading companies of MPI including BAS Printers, Borcombe SP, Goodman Baylis and Friary Press | The closure will not have any impact on the other trading companies of MPI including BAS Printers, Borcombe SP, Goodman Baylis and Friary Press |