Staff at a Pitsea superstore are furious over plans to cut their working hours by up to 25 per cent, it was claimed today.

Post office counter workers at Tesco's Extra store fear their jobs may be on the line as part of what they see as a cost-cutting exercise.

One worker who asked not to be named said: "They are talking about cutting the opening hours, opening later in the morning and closing earlier in the evening.

"We fear the opening hours will be cut by 30 per cent."

Tesco bosses have admitted that the weekday opening hours of the post office in the store will be cut, but stress that no job cuts are planned at the Station Lane supermarket.

A Tesco spokesman said: "We have got nothing to hide and have been totally honest with staff about this. We are looking at reducing hours but staff have certainly not got anything to fear."

Published Thursday August 15, 2002

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