Usdaw members at Grattan left devastated with thousands of jobs at risk

David Johnson, Usdaw National Officer said: “Our members are totally shocked and distressed by this news. Everyone was aware that a business review was taking place that may have resulted in a number of redundancies. However no-one could have predicted the scale of this announcement putting thousands of jobs at risk.

I have been told that this decision is not due to the economic downturn but reflects restructuring and repositioning in the traditional catalogue home shopping sector that has seen a steady decline in recent years.

Many of the staff have worked for Grattan for a long time and also there are many different family generations who work for the company. They are a very hardworking and extremely loyal workforce. It really is a bitter blow to Bradford, the surrounding area and other affected parts of the country.

I will be meeting the Usdaw reps at the affected sites later today.”

Notes to Editors:

• Contacts for newsdesks: Usdaw’s Media Officer, Cherry Hamilton, can be contacted on 0161 249 2469 or e-mail cherry.hamilton@usdaw.org.uk
• Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK’s fourth biggest trade union, with over 369,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
• More information and news releases are available at our online Newsroom.
• Subscribe/unsubscribe to Usdaw news releases via our online e-news service at: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/site/email.html

 Printer Friendly Page

 Email to a Friend

© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
This page: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/retailnonfood/news/1231945276_24085.html
Last Modified: Friday, 16-Jan-2009 03:55:24 EST
Site Credits