Workers at a cash-strapped north-east factory last night admitted they are “resigned” to another round of job lay offs.
Staff at Turriff-based stationery firm Pelikan Hardcopy Scotland Ltd (PHS) have been were informed that their jobs are under threat as management considers redundancies.
There was a sombre atmosphere at the Markethill Road factory yesterday as employees braced themselves for union negotiations and sweeping job losses.
Hesitant to speak publicly before bosses confirm which of the 83 PHS staff are facing redundancy, one worker, who did not want to be named, said: “We’re resigned to the fact really.
“The problem is the company haven’t kept up with the times. We still make carbon paper. We still make typewriter ribbon. When was the last typewriter made – 1969?”
He added that he and his colleagues have been told by senior management to expect 25 lay offs – nearly one third of the workforce.
Another worker described the mood inside the plant as “quiet”.
She said: “We’ve not been told anything. There’s not been a meeting. I think everyone else knows more than us.”
The Press and Journal understands the Unite union will hold talks with PHS and last night Unite’s north-east regional officer Tommy Campbell reiterated the union’s position.
He said: “We’ve been advised of the potential for redundancies and the union will be entering into talks in the coming weeks.
“It is always difficult and disappointing when the threat of job losses hangs over a workforce but we will be looking at all possibilities to avoid any redundancies.”
The factory – which produces thermal transfer film products which allow material to be glued to paper by melting a coating of ribbon – is no stranger to job cuts.
In 2002, 80 workers were made redundant after the firm reported a decline in revenue from its traditional typewriter and printer ribbons.
Two years ago it was revealed PHS had been hit by a 13% drop in revenue between 2010 to 2011. Takings fell from £10.57m to £9.23m.
It also reported a widening of its pension scheme deficit, from £7.42m to £8.84m.
Community councillor and former factory employee John Smith said last night: “I worked as an accountant there many years ago, before it was taken over by Pelikan.
“The business has changed so much in nature. Big businesses go in these phases of laying people off – Pelikan certainly has that in its history – so I’m not sure if it’s a surprise.”
Aberdeenshire councillor and local resident Sandy Duncan, SNP, expressed his sympathies to the staff.
He said: “I’m really disappointed – I share the staff’s disappointment.
“It’s a good source of employment in Turriff although it has had its ups and downs.
“But this has come out of the blue. I don’t know the exact unemployment figure for Turriff but certainly if that place starts paying people off it can’t help.”
The Markethill Road plant was opened in 1967 and is described as a “centre of excellence” on PHS’s website. Research, development, ink production, commercial coating and international distribution are all carried out at the site.
PHS is owned by Malaysian conglomerate Pelikan International Corporation, a leading company in the worldwide stationery market.
No one from Pelikan Hardcopy Scotland Ltd was available for comment last night.