[an error occurred while processing this directive]

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Minister pleased redundancy numbers are lower than expected

Fri, 06 May 2011

The Minister for Community, Culture and Leisure says he's pleased the number of compulsory redundancies on the heritage railways is lower than expected.

 

Five staff lost their jobs yesterday.

 

The Department's budget was cut this year and savings of £800,000 are needed.

 

David Cretney says at first they looked at getting rid of 22 posts and he's happy the number is less than this.

 

Mr Cretney says attempts were made to save four of the posts by changing working agreement but he says this wasn't accepted by workforce reps.

 

Those whose jobs have been cut were a joiner, two blacksmiths and two painters who worked on trams and stream trains.

 

There's been concern that the posts are so specialised that the staff would struggle to be redeployed elsewhere.

 

The Department says they will be helped in their search for new employment.

 

Workers whose positions weren't axed yesterday have been told their jobs are safe for the next financial year.

 

---