Extra 29 National Grid posts facing the axe
Another 29 workers are set to lose their jobs at a National Grid base, it has emerged today – after bosses had previously announced that 66 jobs were facing the axe.
It comes three months after infrastructure corporation Balfour Beatty took over contracts with the utility giant earlier this year to upgrade the gas distribution network in the West Midlands and the north west.
James Merrylees, spokesman for Balfour Beatty, said: "Since taking over the contracts in April, we have been in consultation with employees on our gas contracts with National Grid in the West Midlands and north west.
"Due to duplication of roles, we anticipated the need to reduce staff numbers across the two areas by around 195."
He added: "To date, 156 employees have left Balfour Beatty; 66 from our Wolverhampton-based operations and 90 from the north west.
"We are still in consultation with the remaining 29 employees."
He confirmed all the outstanding 29 employees were office staff from the Wolverhampton operation.
The cuts will come from the current 600-strong workforce at Stafford Road, Wolverhampton, meaning since Balfour Beatty took over the work, around one in seven of the previous staff numbers have been axed.
Mr Merrylees said the company continued to employ 1,300 people working on contracts for projects connected to National Grid and that the firm had looked at alternative opportunities for staff where possible.
The firm has faced criticism for continuing to use sub-contractors at the same time as it is shedding workers, but chiefs have insisted they have no intention to take on any more after axing staff.
Bosses said consultation with affected workers began as soon as Balfour Beatty took over contracts in April.
The firm says a number of job roles have been duplicated as since taking over the contract it has brought together staff from five different organisations.
The 66 workers who were affected in the earlier redundancy announcements made were those who carried out manual positions within the company.
National Grid is a gas and electricity company.
It comes after hundreds of jobs were put at risk when Npower announced a decision this year to close its IT contact centre in High Street, Kingswinford, as part of a review carried out by parent company RWE.
A total of 284 people work at the site and voluntary redundancy is now being offered to staff there.
