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Cosmetics firm lays off 260 staff Cosmetics firm lays off 263 staff
(about 1 hour later)
A cosmetics factory has made 260 people redundant, two days after the plant was placed in administration. Around 263 workers at a cosmetics factory have been told they have lost their jobs.
A further 126 people will be kept on at Budelpack International COSi in Maesteg near Bridgend to fulfil orders for the next few weeks. The staff at Budelpack COSi in Maesteg were told on Friday morning that they were being made redundant and they left around midday.
It is understood that staff had been paid until the end of November. About 126 workers will remain at the site but if a new buyer is not found the plant is expected to close by 19 December.
The administrators have blamed the economic downturn for the firm's collapse, and said they are trying to secure a buyer for the business. Union officials say they hold out little hope the plant will remain open.
Workers are being paid up to today and have been told they will receive no redundancy payments.
Mervyn Burnett, of the GMB union, said: "We arrived on-site early this morning to be told by the management they were hoping to keep about 100 people on-site to carry out outstanding orders.
"People have been told today that they are free to go and that effectively they've been made redundant from today.
"We estimate about 263 have been told they're technically redundant today which leaves about 126 who've probably got one two or three weeks at the most. I've worked here 21 years and they've just smacked us in the face with it. Not a thank you or a Merry Christmas Gail Bristow
"The way GMB members, some of whom worked in this plant for 20 and 30 years were treated this morning is a thundering disgrace. They were treated with complete disrespect and a total lack of dignity," he added.
"They were told at 11am that they were redundant with no money - they were given a form to claim money from the taxpayer via the state and sent home.
"By 19 December if the administrators can't fund a buyer the plant will close."
Donna Evans, from Maesteg, who worked at the plant for 19 years said: "Everyone was crying. We were like family.
"We've all worked together for so long and for this to happen. Some of them in there - there's mothers and fathers and children from families working in there and now they've got nothing.
"I've just bought a new house. My partner is working but we need the two wages to keep us going and there's just nothing round here."
Gail Bristow, from Maesteg said: "We've just been told we're going, that's it, we're out.
"We're devastated. I've worked here 21 years and they've just smacked us in the face with it. Not a thank you or a Merry Christmas."
Alistair Wardell, of the administrators Grant Thornton, said they had "no choice" but to take the measures.
"It will allow for production at the plant to be maintained while we continue to make strenuous efforts to secure a purchaser for this business.
"Meanwhile, we are working closely with workers' representatives and a number of public agencies to ensure that everything is done to support the affected staff at this difficult time."