Axe falls on 3,300 jobs

Feb 11 2010 by Iain Laing, The Journal

THOUSANDS more job losses were announced yesterday in a worsening week for employment, with grim predictions of even more bad news in the pipeline.

More than 3,300 cuts were announced or confirmed, hitting council, retail and manufacturing workers in different parts of the UK.

The most drastic news came from Birmingham City Council, which is planning to shed up to 2,000 jobs over the next financial year as it strives to “do more for less”.

Administrators of discount retailer Ethel Austin and sister homeware chain Au Naturale cut 469 jobs and launched a closing-down sale at 129 stores.

German manufacturer Bosch confirmed it was pressing ahead with plans to close a car parts factory in Miskin, near Cardiff, employing 900 people, by the middle of next year.

The black day followed announcements of 1,600 job losses earlier this week, including 400 at Cadbury’s Somerdale factory in Somerset, which is to close with the loss of 400 jobs despite hopes that new owners Kraft would save it.

Unions fear other local authorities will cut jobs they set their budgets for the next financial year.