A sheet of paper found on a fax machine left staff fearing for their jobs at Peterborough’s Hotpoint factory. But union representatives said they have been assured by the firm there is no need for alarm and the document found was simply part of a larger feasibility study.
Concerned workers feared the 1,400 jobs may be at risk at the site in Morley Way, Woodston, where Hotpoint and Indesit refrigeration products are manufactured.
The site is also home to Hotpoint’s parent firm Indesit Company’s national headquarters, national spares distribution centre and customer contact centre.
A spokeswoman for Indesit Company said today: “We became aware of the concerns being expressed locally. In recognition of this a normal monthly meeting with the union representatives was brought forward.
“It gave us the opportunity to address the concerns through a business update.”
Workers at the site belong to the GMB Union.
Its regional officer David Shamma confirmed that they had been assured jobs at the manufacturer’s city site were currently safe.
He said union representatives had been told the document which was found was “incomplete” and part of a bigger document belonging to a feasibility study, which contained some inaccurate facts.
Mr Shamma said: “I have got concerns about this, the same as anyone would have.
“At the end of the day if the company had plans to close they would have to enter into a 90-day consultation with the union.
“What they have said is that there is no issue of closure.
“We can only go on what we are told and I think it alleys fears for the time being.
“How secure people are for the long term is another matter. Clearly we will be keeping a very close eye on it.”
There has been a manufacturing site at the premises in Woodston since the’50s. Indesit took over the company in 2003 and in 2006 the company announced the loss of 105 jobs. At the time a Indesit spokeswoman had said that 2005 was a challenging year for the white goods industry in general, with a downturn in consumer spending generally, as well as substantial increases in raw materials and energy costs.
What is clear from this story however is one thing, the site is being looked at closely if a feasability study has been commissioned and, as history proves from most such cases, it usually leads to some sort of cut if not closure.