Victrex job losses a ‘hammer blow’

Union leaders have called plans by global polymer solutions supplier Victrex to axe 79 jobs at its Lancashire headquarters a ‘hammer blow’ to the North West.

The GMB union has pledged to fight “tooth and nail” to secure the best possible deal for its members at the company’s Thornton-Cleveleys operation.

It says staff were informed about the job cuts yesterday in the week when it was confirmed that the UK economy had plunged into the worst recession on record.

The union says that the firm opened its consultation with staff yesterday, with 79 redundancies expected across operations at its Cleveleys HQ by October 2020.

Stephen Boden, GMB regional organiser, said: “This is a hammer blow for manufacturing in the North West – and the UK as a whole.

“The decision to restructure manufacturing within the company in this capacity is devastating news for GMB members and their families.

“Members should have no fear that we will work closely with affected members to mitigate compulsory job losses.

“We will fight tooth and nail to secure the best possible deal through the consultation period.”

Victrex manufactures high-performance polymers for markets around the world at its Hillhouse site on the Wyre coast, which is also home to an emerging enterprise zone. It is a FTSE 250 company with a 900-strong workforce.

The company has been approached for a comment.