News

A total of 84 people in 'transport-related positions' are at risk of redundancy at Eddie Stobart's Manton Wood, Nottinghamshire, transport operations.

Stobart met with the United Road Transport Union (URTU) on 5 January after it announced its intentions to close the site, which it acquired when it bought the chilled operations of Innovate Logistics out of  administration in July 2008.

The staff have now been placed on a 30-day formal consultation period, and Stobart told Commercial Motor it is looking to re-deploy staff within the company.

Sheila Woodbridge, Stobart Group human resources director, says: "The group is committed to listening to the views of the trade unions and employees affected. Redundancies will be discussed, and it would be unfair on all parties to pre-empt any outcomes of this consultation."

Dave Swan, regional officer at URTU, says: "Before Christmas I do not think the company did anything untowards and there was a big hope that they could turn it around. We now have to go through all the motions, but if you can save one job it is worth attempting."

According to redundancy notice documents obtained by CM, the decision has been made "following a recent review that has highlighted the need for  reorganisation in the business, to achieve cost-effective distribution solutions, maximising all available resources".

At the time of the Innovate acquisition, employees at Manton Wood were sent a letter stating that the Stobart Group was "fully committed to providing long-term, sustainable employment".