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Pay and work cuts for FG Wilson Pay and work cuts for FG Wilson
(about 1 hour later)
Workers at FG Wilson face a reduction in their pay and weekly hours, according to the trade union Unite.Workers at FG Wilson face a reduction in their pay and weekly hours, according to the trade union Unite.
A spokesman for the union said there was a company proposal "to reduce the working week by 10% and a reduction in salary of 10% would go with that". A spokesman for the union said the company wanted to reduce the working week by 10%.
"The company is saying this would affect all levels of the organisation with some exceptions, but virtually everyone would be affected," he said."The company is saying this would affect all levels of the organisation with some exceptions, but virtually everyone would be affected," he said.
FG Wilson were unavailable for comment. FG Wilson said the plan would let them "manage costs in the short-term" and position them for long-term success.
The Unite spokesman said the union would consult with members on Monday. "FG Wilson is working hard to minimise the need for compulsory redundancies by fully investigating alternatives," the firm said in a statement.
The Unite spokesman said the union would consult with members on Monday, but that a cut in hours would mean a cut in wages.
"Obviously a cut in wages is not good for anyone," he said."Obviously a cut in wages is not good for anyone," he said.
"The company has said they have been forced to take these actions in an attempt to protect the core workforce from further job losses."The company has said they have been forced to take these actions in an attempt to protect the core workforce from further job losses.
"We were in discussions with the company yesterday and we will put this to members in the coming week."We were in discussions with the company yesterday and we will put this to members in the coming week.
"We insisted it had to affect everyone, it could not just target the shop floor workers."We insisted it had to affect everyone, it could not just target the shop floor workers.
"We got the company to agree that if there were further redundancies among hourly paid workers in 2009, any money lost due to this cutting of the working week would be reimbursed on top of any redundancy package.""We got the company to agree that if there were further redundancies among hourly paid workers in 2009, any money lost due to this cutting of the working week would be reimbursed on top of any redundancy package."
The Unite spokesman said the company was hoping the move would be a "short-term measure". The spokesman said it was understood shop floor workers would be expected to work under the new arrangements from 4 May, with other staff affected from "the beginning of June".
He said it was understood shop floor workers would be expected to work under the new arrangements from 4 May, with other staff affected from "the beginning of June".
It was announced in April, that a total of 95 workers were to be made redundant at the County Antrim engineering firm.It was announced in April, that a total of 95 workers were to be made redundant at the County Antrim engineering firm.
The firm said the cutbacks were necessary to "manage production levels with current demand".
In January, the company said it was making 250 people redundant and a month earlier it laid off more than 180 agency workers.In January, the company said it was making 250 people redundant and a month earlier it laid off more than 180 agency workers.
FG Wilson was founded in 1966 and acquired by current parent company, Caterpillar, in 1999.FG Wilson was founded in 1966 and acquired by current parent company, Caterpillar, in 1999.