Unpaid workers keep firm afloat

Workers decided to work for nothing rather than lose their jobs

Workers faced with joining the dole queue when their company went bust have kept the firm afloat by working for nothing.

Sussex-based Keyhole Security, which went into receivership last October, has now been able to find a buyer.

The employees, who continued to work unpaid for two months, are being offered shares in the Portslade company as a reward for their loyalty.

Worker Tim Bush said it put pressure on families but they all pulled through.

He said: "We tightened our belts and didn't spend anything that we didn't have to and managed to get through until we were able to start drawing something from the company."

'Staff decision'

The employees are not the first to resort to pay cuts to keep jobs going during the recession.

Last month, workers at car manufacturer Honda voted to take a 3% cut in wages for 10 months.

On Monday, staff at insurance firm AXA PPP were asked to accept cuts in pay and conditions or lose up to 300 jobs in Kent.

And British Airways pilots were advised on Thursday by their own union to accept pay cuts and longer working hours to safeguard jobs.

Workers at Keyhole Security said it was a staff decision, instead of a management move, to keep going without pay.