Row over textile job cuts

The company makes printed furniture fabrics

Union representatives are meeting managers from a Cumbrian textile factory, following the announcement of job losses.

About 25% of the 300 workforce at the Stead McAlpin site in Cummersdale in Carlisle are facing redundancy.

The move comes as the company aims to cut more than £2m from its operating costs.

Union bosses were due to meet management at the plant on Friday to discuss the situation.

Officials from the Transport and General Workers Union say they will oppose any redundancies.

Increased competition

But the company, which makes furniture fabrics, says it needs to trim operating costs to bring it back into profitability.

The factory is part of the national John Lewis Partnership, which owns the department store chain and the Waitrose supermarket chain.

Workers received a letter from the company, which blamed increased competition from the Far East, and a growing trend away from the use of printed furnishing fabrics.

A spokeswoman for the John Lewis Partnership said: "Despite significant investment at the Cummersdale factory something has to be done to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

"We need to return to profit and if these proposals go through, we expect this to happen in 2005-6."

A final decisions on redundancies is due to be made by the end of November.