Jobs go at hi-tech firm

AROUND 30 jobs are to go at Uckfield s biggest employer.

Trifast announced the redundancies this week after a two-week period of consultation between bosses and workers.

The industrial fastening company had been implementing proposals to cut 2.5 million of operating costs from the business. This followed the removal of 1 million of operating costs earlier in the year, when five workers lost their jobs.

The job losses were blamed on a drop in the level of worldwide trading in telecom and IT, as well as a general slowdown in the global economy.

Group finance director John Wilson said: We are nearing the completion a a two-week period of individual consultation. We have tried everything possible to minimise the impact. We have explored the possibility of shifting people to another type of work or function, and also the possibility of moving people to sites that are nearby and within easy access.

We have even been talking to other companies in the area with regards to whether they can offer employment.

Downturn

Mr Wilson said the job losses would probably take immediate effect and added that some redundancies would happen as early as today.

At last month s AGM, chairman David Dugdale said Trifast s fortunes reflected the severe economic downturn in manufacturing globally.

He said: Sales for the first four months to the end of July remain at 14 per cent below the comparable period last year. This is the same level that we reported in our published accounts for the first two months of this financial year.

This reflects the severe economic downturn in manufacturing being experienced across the globe, in particular from the information technology and telecom sectors.

Around 300 staff are employed at Trifast in Uckfield.