Press Association
Wednesday 7th January 2009
Discount retailer Wilkinson may shed up to 1,500 jobs next year if it adopts a new stock supply system, the company has confirmed.
The discount chain, which is based in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, said it was doing everything it could - including freezing external recruitment - to ensure any redundancies were kept to a minimum.
A company spokesman also stressed that the possible cuts were not connected to the current squeeze on the high street and that Wilkinson's sales levels were "bearing up very, very well" as consumers opt for value goods.
Staff at the retailer's 312 stores and their trade union have been briefed about the proposed changes to the way stock is replenished, which are being trialled at 33 shops in the Midlands and Yorkshire.
The Wilkinson spokesman said: "This process has nothing to do with the current trading conditions on the high street but has been in development for some considerable time.
"We care passionately about our team members and the decision to commence early discussions reflects our determination to minimise any effect through redeployment of our existing and loyal team members wherever possible, if [the new stock-handling system] is adopted.
"The company has commenced early and open discussions with its recognised union, the GMB, so that affected team members will benefit well in advance from priority consideration for alternative posts as they become available.
"This process is designed to eliminate wherever possible the need for redundancies."
Wilkinson, which employs around 25,000 people, said the planned changes - part of a long-term strategy to make efficiency improvements - would reduce the number of times stock needs to be handled in store, as well as reducing the volume of items branches hold.
