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Jobs fears for 300 Indesit staff Jobs fears for 300 Indesit staff
(about 1 hour later)
A union has claimed a Denbighshire washing machine factory which employs more than 300 people is to be subject to a "critical review". A union meets senior management later over fears a washing machine factory, which employs more than 300, is to be subject to a "critical review".
Alwyn Rowlands, of Unite, said Indesit's Bodelwyddan site was one of two which would receive "special emphasis" in the review, which is expected shortly. Alwyn Rowlands, of Unite, claims Indesit's plant at Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire was one of two which would receive "special emphasis".
The union, which is meeting management on Thursday, wants the company to "come clean" over its plans. It follows a day of a 350 actual and potential job losses in Wales.
Indesit has been asked for comment. Meanwhile, official monthly jobless figures showed unemployment in Wales has reached 100,000.
Mr Rowlands said the plans would be discussed when the company meets to consider its whole operation. Mr Rowlands said the review would be discussed when Indesit meets to consider its whole operation.
He said up to 340 workers at the plant had been told nothing about their futures, and he now feared for the factory. Unite, which is meeting management on Thursday, wants the the company to "come clean" over its plans. Indesit has been asked for comment.
Mr Rowlands said up to 340 workers at the plant, which also makes the Hotpoint brand, had been told nothing about their futures, and he now feared for the factory.
We are determined to do all we can to prevent job losses and support Welsh workers who lose their jobs First Minister Rhodri Morgan
He added: "One has to be suspicious of the fact that they have opened a new plant in Poland that produces washing machines.He added: "One has to be suspicious of the fact that they have opened a new plant in Poland that produces washing machines.
"We can't keep people in a state of suspended animation - you've got to come clean."We can't keep people in a state of suspended animation - you've got to come clean.
"If it's bad news, then let's have it so we can deal with it.""If it's bad news, then let's have it so we can deal with it."
The union's claim came on a bad day for job losses across Wales.
Flintshire building firm PT Construction, based on Deeside Industrial Park, announced it had gone out of business with 130 job losses.
Managers at Makro cash-and-carry store in Swansea announced they were proposing to close the store with the possible loss of 112 jobs.
At Caernarfon, Gwynedd, manufacturer Gleneagle Furniture said it had closed with the loss of 65 jobs.
And the First Milk cheese packing plant at Maelor, Wrexham, warned that another 52 jobs could go because of "reduced volumes" in its business.
Official quarterly figures showed that UK unemployment increased by 146,000 to 1.97 million between October and December.
In Wales more than 5,000 jobs were lost during the quarter, meaning a total of 7% of the population are now unemployed.
Responding to the figures, shadow Welsh secretary Cheryl Gillan MP, said: "Gordon Brown and Rhodri Morgan's failure to prepare for the recession means Wales now has the highest unemployment rate of any of the nations of the United Kingdom.
"Across Wales 100,000 people face an uncertain future as more jobs are lost, more companies go bust, and with fewer opportunities to get back to work.
"These figures will not include recent job losses including those at Woolworths and Corus. This means the real position on the ground is significantly worse than today's figures suggest.
"Despite all Labour's summits, all Labour's spin, and all the promises of support, jobs continue to be lost across Wales on a daily basis."
Liberal Democrat economy spokeswoman Jenny Randerson AM, described the latest figures as "a worrying milestone in this increasingly long and bleak period."
Ms Randerson said: "The UK rate is running at 6.3%, so Wales is in a considerably worse position. For a long period, the Welsh unemployment rate was below the UK average, and now we have fallen behind."
Mr Morgan acknowledged that the figures were "disappointing".
The First Minister added: "We are determined to do all we can to prevent job losses and support Welsh workers who lose their jobs.
"Innovative schemes such as ReAct, ProAct and the apprenticeship support programme have got £100m fully allocated. They are there to offer real help to businesses and employees, and we will continue to work closely with the UK government.
"We are doing all that we can to help the people of Wales through these tough times, and to prepare Wales for the upturn when it comes."