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Jobs on the line as Stobart plans Innovate site closure

22nd January 2009
Page 8
Page 8, 22nd January 2009 — Jobs on the line as Stobart plans Innovate site closure
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

By Roger Brown

STOBART GROUP is set to close another of the sites it acquired when it bought the chilled operations of Innovate Logistics out of administration last July.

A total of 71 drivers and 24 management, administration and support staff at the Stobart Chilled depot in Lark hall, South Lanarkshire, are set to lose their jobs following what the company describes as a "detailed review of its operations" which was aimed at "consolidating and integrating resources to achieve operational synergies".

Stobart has entered into a formal 30-day formal consultation period with the T&G section of union Unite.

Sheila Woodbridge, Stobart Group HR director, says: 'The group is committed to listening to the views of the trade unions and employees affected, and redundancies will be discussed."

The site was formerly part of Corby Chilled Distribution, which was acquired by Innovate Logistics in 2006. Stobart bought the chilled operations of Innovate out of administration in July 2008.

The closure comes after CM revealed that 84 transport staff at Stobart's site in Manton Wood, Nottinghamshire also a former Innovate base are under threat ('Risk of 84 redundancies at Eddie Stobart', CM 15 January).

Derek Onniston, spokesman for Unite, which represents employees at Larkhall, tells CM:"The workers agreed to a pay freeze last year and now face losing their jobs.

-People are devastated and we are gloomy about the situation, but we will try our best to see if there is any way we can keep it going.

"We hope the site can stay as a haulage operation and are exploring options to keep the business open, minimise redundancies and maximise pay-offs."

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