Marconi unions leave empty-handed

About 300 Marconi workers will lose their jobs

Unions fighting to save jobs at Liverpool's threatened Marconi plant say they are very disappointed, after meeting government ministers.

Amicus wanted the Department of Trade and Industry to put pressure on the North West Development Agency (NWDA) to lower the rent on the Edge Lane site.

But ministers Alan Johnson and Alun Michael said it was a matter purely for the NWDA.

Three hundred jobs will go and 355 will transfer to Chorley if the plant shuts.

Marconi has said it has no choice but to cut costs after losing out on a £10bn British Telecom network upgrade contract.

'No willingness'

Pat Maloney, from Amicus, said: "The DTI could do nothing about the Edge Lane plant in Liverpool.

"They said if anything could be done at all it would be done with the NWDA.

"I'm very disappointed that, whether through lack of activity or whatever reason, there seems to be very little happening.

"There seems to be no willingness from government to meet in any way any of the requirements to save this industry and these jobs in Liverpool."

Marconi plans to shut the Edge Lane site by the end of 2005.