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Fears that Polestar may stop shining
Page 14
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OPERATORS IN Somerset are dismissing fears that the giant Polestar print factory in Paulton is on the verge of closure.
Factory staff and union representatives have been locked in negotiations with Polestar bosses for the past five weeks in a bid to find a rescue package:the company admits it is trading in extremely difficult circumstances and substantial losses are being made.
But the operators say talk of closure is being used a lever to ilring about a speedy resolution to the dispute between union and management. One haulage director says:"I don't think it will close. They need to change their wage packages and structure,though."
A spokesman for Massey Wil cox, a contractor for the supplie of Polestar, says: "It's major bus ness for us. [But] we have had n indication that there's going to t any loss of deliveries."
The print group recent] announced an increase in prol and turnover for 2003, but profi fell in its UK printing and pad aging divisions. It has also bee forced to close its Diss site. Grou operations director.Mike Bartlel explains: "In the face of ongoin pressures... there are also issut relating to profitability."
A Polestar spokeswoman sa) the company has six months t iron out any problems. She add "There shouldn't be any problei at all.The company is operatingz normal.Talks are on-going.