Dudley steel company running for eight decades has temporarily laid off 95 per cent of its workers amid job fears
More than ninety-five per cent of workers at a Black Country steel processing plant have been sent home temporarily due to a reduction in work.
Most of the staff at decoiling plant C.Brown & Sons (Steel) Ltd in Pedmore Road in Brierley Hill were sent home on August 15 for four weeks. Bosses informed the employees of the situation in a meeting and pledged that the matter would be kept under review.
The factory near Dudley is involved in cold rolling and cutting steel among its operations. The business founded almost 80 years ago was taken over from the Brown family by new owners the private equity group HLD on April 1.
A worker, who did not want to be named, said the employees were concerned they will not be entitled to redundancy under the scheme if they are not offered any further shifts. He said : "Last Friday 95 per cent of the workforce was put on temporary layoff, which means that we get lay-off pay of £39 for the first five days in a 13-week period and that is all."
Another section of the operation known as C.Brown Profiles was made subject to lay-offs last month.
