Workers rally against job cuts

Solectron confirmed it was cutting back in south Wales

The fight for the jobs of 350 workers made redundant by electronics company Solectron in Cwmcarn, south Wales is continuing with a rally in Newport.

The Communication Workers' Union will accuse the Californian company on Saturday of "hypocrisy" for shedding the jobs as part of a worldwide restructuring programme.

It is irresponsible and heartless for a heartless for a company to transfer this work abroad at a whim

Neath MP, Peter Hain

The union's General Secretary, Derek Hodgson, said that ending manufacturing at the plant was "multinational madness".

Speaking earlier this month Mr Hodgson said: "We refuse to give up hope that Selectron management will eventually see sense and reverse their decision to end manufacturing at the plant.

"What is being proposed would be a tragedy for Cwmcarn and South Wales."

The demonstration has been given the support of the Neath MP Peter Hain, who has apologised for not being able to show his support in person.

Mr Hain said: "I am sorry that other matters keep me away from attending your demonstration."

"The jobs at Solectron in Cwmbran have not been lost - they have been stolen."

Workforce halved

"You are model productive workers in a profitable and respected plant.

"It is irresponsible and heartless for a heartless for a company to transfer this work abroad at a whim."

Solectron took over the plant from the Canadian Telecoms giant Nortel less than 12 months ago.

The cuts will see the workforce effectively halved.

But Solectron had ruled out the entire closure of the site at this stage.

A spokesman said the company was addressing the impact of changing economic conditions and resulting changes in customer demand.

Latest blow

The plant produces telephone equipment - the sort of basic electronic assembly work that has been leaving Wales in large volumes recently.

Last year Panasonic, Sony and Hitachi announced more than 2,000 redundancies at plants in south Wales.

Hitachi axed 350 jobs claiming it had lost nearly £20m in the past five years because of the drop in the price of televisions.

Japanese electronics giant Sony cut 400 jobs at its television plants at Bridgend and neighbouring Pencoed.