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Ducab, the owner of UK’s AEI Cables, has
been accused of treating its workers badly
by refusing to give clarity on the company’s
future.
A former worker at the County Durham site
told a local journalist that staff were left
“dangling” because the company refused
to tell them anything.
AEI Cables denied the claims, saying staff
were made “fully aware” of the position
of the company. AEI has now ceased
manufacturing with the loss of 200 jobs,
and is set to become a sales-only business.
The GMB union has called for a full
investigation into Ducab, which bought AEI
in 2014, after accusing them of neglecting
their duties over staff pay-outs. The union
also raised concerns that staff were told
before Christmas 2016 that their jobs were
secure. The worker confirmed: “I think the
whole workforce knew the place was
finished.”
A spokesperson for AEI Cables said:
“Monthly briefings with all staff and union
members have taken place over the last
year or more.
“Since the acquisition of AEI Cables from
the administrator by Ducab in February
2014 significant investment has been made
in the site, with all funding coming from
Ducab – supporting more than 200 jobs for
nearly three years.
“The company tried for almost three years
tomake the loss-making business a success.
We will be providing all the advice and
guidance we can to those being made
redundant.”
Cable closure causes
dispute
The AEI Cables site at County Durham, UK.
Photograph courtesy of
The Northern Echo
wiredInUSA - February 2017
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