Unions brand Christmas redundancies news from parcel firm as ‘disgraceful’

A UNION has branded as “disgraceful” the timing of an announcement that nearly 3,000 workers are facing redundancies over the holidays.

The RMT demanded “urgent talks” with Business Secretary Vince Cable after it was revealed on Christmas Day that parcel delivery group City Link had gone into administration.

City Link, which has 2,727 employees, called in administrators from professional services firm EY after years of “substantial losses”. The Coventry-based company, which is understood to count John Lewis among its largest clients, now expects numerous redundancies after no buyer could be found to bail it out.

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The RMT said it believed there may have been “more cynical motives” behind the decision to “delay” the announcement until Christmas Day and demanded an investigation. It said it had been told City Link was in administration on Christmas Eve, a fact neither the firm or the administrators were prepared to confirm until the following day.

Mick Cash, the RMT General Secretary, said: “Not only was it the most brutal and callous way to treat nearly 3,000 staff but RMT believes there may have been more cynical motives behind it which we want the Government to investigate.”

Leeds-based joint administrator Hunter Kelly claimed the business had incurred “substantial losses over several years” and efforts to save City Link had failed.