It is reported that around 50 jobs are to go at Sheffield forging plant Firth Rixson.

Staff at Firth Rixson Forgings has been told that up to 60 jobs will be cut from the 156 strong workforce at the Meadowhall site. Workers have received letters saying 42 staff from the shop floor must go and that another five workers from the offices will lose their jobs.

One employee facing the axe said that every member of staff has been told they must reapply for their own jobs and, once the process is complete, 47 workers will go. He added that "It's scandalous the way we're being treated. Morale has never been so low. There are people there who have worked at Firth Rixson for over 30 years. If I lose my job I don't know how I will pay the mortgage. There are no other jobs out there like this."

Another worker at the plant said that "Morale is low. People don't know where to go if they lose their job. There's nothing else about at the moment. The company has changed a lot of the job specs, and told people on the shop floor to reapply for their jobs. But at least the management has been open with us. They've told us which jobs are at risk and why."

The decision follows the company's plan to close the plant for a month this summer. A Firth Rixson spokesman confirmed the cuts would hit workers on the shop floor most heavily. He said that "Our business is in a difficult situation as directed by global economic conditions. Where possible the company has mitigated the need to restructure the business through the planned lay off periods across the site. Given our order book and the continued fluctuation in work, it may be necessary to reduce our current workforce by 40 to 60 roles in total. Ultimately we will always try to do what is right for our business and our employees."

Sheffield Central MP Mr Richard Caborn called for a constructive dialogue between the union and the company. He said that "This news is of real concern. We need to ensure the skills are not lost so that when we come out of this recession we have the labor force to carry on. The manufacturing downturn is not as deep-set as that in the financial industry it will recover, and it is important to maintain the skills that support it."

Firth Rixson supplies the aerospace, transport and energy sectors and has maintained its share of the forging market. But big manufacturing customers, particularly in the USA, have cut orders to cope with the downturn.

(Sourced from www.thestar.co.uk)