Union chiefs are to hold talks with bosses at Colchester's Betts factory, in a bid to stave off redundancies.

The Ipswich Road firm announced last week it would shed 200 out of 500 jobs after going into partnership with US firm Nypro.

The Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) and its shop stewards at the plant have arranged a meeting with management at the Butterfly Hotel, near the Crown interchange, Ardleigh, tomorrow

Representative Peter Stephens, who has looked after Betts' employees for the past 20 years, said he would go into the showdown with the aim of preventing any redundancies.

He said: "This is a long-established company that was there well before I started looking after workers there 20 years ago. It is one of Colchester's biggest employers and this is quite a blow for the town."

Betts claims the transfer of its injection-moulding operation to its new partner Nypro will allow it to concentrate on winning more laminate tubes contracts and be good for business in the long-term.

Published Monday September 13, 2004

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