Engineers cuttings jobs

By Ross Findon

Friday, October 19, 2012

 

JOBS are to go at engineering firm Trucast.

Staff at the firm’s Ryde operation were told a fall in demand was to blame for the loss of 17 jobs and cutting the hours of up to 39 others from 36 to 28.5 hours.

Managing director Clive Thomas said: "A drop in demand of this nature would normally lead to a reduction of 35 employees.

"By working closely with the employees and the unions, the company was able to limit the number of direct job losses to 17, all of which were temporary roles — roughly half of what initial analysis indicated. All employees who are to lose their jobs have done all that was asked of them and there was no lack of effort on their part.

"It is an unfortunate reality of business that global forces have hurt our employees and their families."

He said eight other temporary workers had been offered permanent contracts and they were confident there would be a recovery in demand in the spring.

The company employs 250 people on the Isle of Wight.

Reporter: ross.findon@iwcp.co.uk