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Job losses at Stornoway Co-op         11/10/11

Redundancies are in the pipeline at the big Stornoway Co-as supermarket bosses seek to slash staff numbers and cut hours  for the rest of the workers in order to make savings.

Employees were told that 1,000 working hours per week are being reduced in a restructuring exercise.

The figure is 24 full-time equivalent posts - the same as making around 50 part time workers redundant.

Staff said they were told that voluntary redundancies are being sought initially.

Twelve Co-op stores across Scotland are hit with 130 full-time equivalent jobs being axed.

But the big Stornoway Co-op is the worst affected. It is also the only one suffering the cuts within the Western Isles.

Jobs and working hours at the Uist and Barra stores are safe say Co-op bosses.

A spokesperson for The Co-operative Group told Hebrides News: “We have conducted a review of staffing levels at our stores, including Macaulay Road in Stornoway, to introduce fairer and more consistent standards across The Co-operative estate.

“This includes introducing a more accurate way of determining the optimum number of working hours required to run each store, while maintaining the same level of service across all our outlets.

“Unfortunately, this means a reduction in the total number of working hours at a number of stores, including Macaulay Road.

“We are now in discussions with colleagues to discuss the impact of this and how it will be implemented.

“The reduction in hours at Macaulay Road is equivalent to around 24 full-time members of staff.

“Should there be any redundancies, every effort will be made to redeploy anyone affected within The Co-operative, or to help them find alternative employment.”