18.08.2008

Tanfield cuts lower than planned

After a full review and consultation process at its UpRight plant in the UK and Snorkel plant in the USA, Tanfield says that it does not need to lay off as many employees as it had at first expected, in order to adapt to uncertain market conditions.

The company will now reduce its headcount in Washington, England by 85, rather than the 142 it had originally planned from its total workforce of 440.

The reductions will cover both Smith Electric Vehicles and Upright aerial lifts. Tanfield said it had made redundancies from across the site and from all grades of staff.

In the USA reports are that the company has already laid off 14 office staff with up 125 additional job cuts possible by the end of September. Snorkel employees recently voted to organise on a union basis.