Union criticises publisher cuts

Plans by one of the oldest publishers in the world to cut nearly 160 staff have been criticised as a "betrayal" by a union representing print workers.

Cambridge University Press (CUP), which is 425 years old, plans to cut 133 out of 170 printing jobs in Cambridge and 25 out of 50 publishing jobs.

CUP said the cuts will help "safeguard the long-term future of our business".

But Ann Field, of the union Unite, said: "Our members are shocked and feel betrayed by this announcement."

She added: "It is appalling that, after a rich history spanning 425 years of printing in Cambridge, CUP has now decided to shut up shop and print outside the UK.

Unite will do everything in our power to fight the closure and prevent compulsory redundancies Ann Field, of the union Unite

"Our first concern is for our members and their families, for whom this will have come as a major blow.

"We urge management to rethink this decision. Unite will do everything in our power to fight the closure and prevent compulsory redundancies."

A CUP spokesman said the cuts had been proposed partly in response to advances in technology.

'Difficult decision'

A spokeswoman said it expected the development of eReaders and eBooks to further hit its profitability.

"We expect the introduction of eReaders to have a similar effect on the printing and publishing industry as the iPod has had on the music industry," she said.

"Knowing that we were having problems making a profit now - and forecasting future changes - we had to take the difficult decision to scale down."

Consultation had begun with the affected employees, she said.

Despite making profits of £2m last year, the spokeswoman said it was targeting under-performing areas of the business.

She said some printing would be outsourced to other companies abroad following the cuts, with the UK operation focused on academic books and promotional material.