Schmitz cuts Durham jobs
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• Trailer manufacturer Schmitz Gargobull is blaming the downturn in the food industry for the loss of 50 jobs at its County Durham factory.
Last month it issued a 30day statutory notice of redundancy on 69 of the 300 workers it employs at Harelaw. near Stanley. Since then management says it has saved about 20 jabs.
"We hope to redeem the situation before we need to go ahead with the job losses." says Schmitz technical direc
tor Derek Skinner. "Normally we are busy before Christmas and quiet after, but this year the market has refused to pick up. The demand for refrigerated trailers just isn't there at the moment:' Brian Anderson of the
Transport and General Workers Union, which represents the Schmitz staff, says he is "bitterly disappointed" by the latest round of job cuts. -especially as it comes hard on the heels of the 30 jobs lost in December.