Jobs threat firm put up for sale

Nearly 2,000 jobs are under threat

Unions at south Wales furniture-making group Christie Tyler are to meet managers on Tuesday as the company is put up for sale by its receivers.

Hundreds of workers now face an uncertain future after the firm went into receivership on Monday.

Receivers Ernst & Young said the group had struggled with international competition and falling retail sales.

It is hoped the business can be sold as a going concern but union bosses are not confident a deal can be done.

The furniture group has more than 1,500 workers at factories across the UK, mostly in Wales but it includes nearly 400 at Scunthorpe and 140 workers at plants in Kidderminster in Worcestershire.

Christie Tyler, which has already announced that its two Flintshire factories are closing, has plants in Bridgend, Pontypridd and Blackwood.

Bridgend-based worker Keith Chambers said staff had been "devastated" by Monday's announcement that the receivers had been called in.

"It was silent for two to three minutes. A couple of ladies broke down crying, husbands were ringing home - there is no work in south Wales now," he said.

Workers were shocked at the announcement

"I am 61 - I have done this since 1959. I haven't got a clue what I am going to do. I will have a go at anything, but all I know is upholstery.

"I just feel I am really upset about it. I could cry to be honest."

The firm will go on sale on Tuesday but if a buyer cannot be found, up to 1,850 workers could lose their jobs, although one of its five sites - employing 400 people - appears to be safe.

Meetings have been arranged between unions and the company but the GMB union has said it does not hold out much hope that the business can be sold as a going concern.

The company, which once employed 3,000 people in Wales, has been struggling to compete against cheaper imports in recent years.

It has opened factories in Lithuania and Asia, which led to concerns that more production being transferred abroad.

JOBS BREAKDOWN Christie-Tyler, South Wales West Division Bridgend 478 Deeside Furniture, Holywell 420 Cambria Mobel, Pontypridd 391 Lebus Furniture, Scunthorpe 391 Wyvern Furniture, Kidderminster 181 Earlybird Furniture, Kidderminster 59 CT Distribution, Blackwood 40 Christie Tyler, Bridgend 32

David Fisher, an ex-director of the firm, said that the company's downfall was not unexpected.

"Most people in the industry realised with the purchases from eastern Europe and China and the costs of the products, that British manufacturing just can't compete," he said.

Mr Fisher wrote a report in 2003 for the Department of Trade and Industry asking for more government support. He is now appealing to the Welsh Assembly Government to help.

Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies said: "It is very worrying news and we have already given our commitment that we will help the companies be sold as a going concern.

"We have been in touch with the receivers and given that commitment.

"Clearly one of the companies, Cambria Mobel Limited in Treforest, has been sold and that means 400 jobs have been saved.

"Christie Tyler were in a very competitive market and they were finding it very difficult and they have been struggling."

But even with the support of the assembly government, the unions have said they do not hold out hope that the company can be sold as a going concern.

This is the third time since last week that the south Wales jobs market has been dealt a blow - another 800 jobs in manufacturing in Bridgend were announced with the closure of the Sony plant and the factory that makes Altoid Mints.