A Hartlepool metal company is slashing jobs just weeks after workers won a pay rise.
Just 51 days after GMB members resolved their pay dispute, the Expanded Metal Company has announced up to ten redundancies at Hartlepool.
Workers were handed redundancy letters last week advising them that they are at risk of redundancy and inviting them to a meeting.
Management appears to be trying to push through the redundancies within a week of first issuing redundancy notices
Despite citing a downturn in work as the reason for the redundancies, the company are advertising the role of a Finance Controller/Financial Director Designate role for 70K.
More than 50 staff at Expanded Metal Company walked out for six days earlier this year – the first strike at the company in more than 100 years – and won a pay rise of 7.5 per cent, as well as a £600 lump sum and improved sick pay.
Paul Clark, GMB Organiser, said:
“GMB members are infuriated over how this has been handled and believe they have self-funded their own pay award.
“This is a shocking move from the employer, an employer who has shown nothing but contempt towards their workforce over the last few months.
“GMB will not accept these redundancies without a fight.”
