A union is considering taking legal action after claiming a Braintree-based print firm failed to consult staff about redundancies

The Graphical Paper and Media Union (GPMU) said staff at Shalford Press were angry at the lack of notice given.

Shalford Press, on the Springwood industrial estate, ceased trading yesterday and said all its 13 staff would lose their jobs.

The company has 11 staff who are union members and Vernon Robson, GPMU Anglia branch secretary, said: "It is fair to say they are very angry and I support them in that view."

Mr Robson said the union was considering legal action against the company on grounds of failure to consult staff on the redundancies, he claimed.

Mike Shaw, a machine monitor who has worked for the company for nearly 39 years, said the news was a shock.

Mr Shaw, 63, of Station Road, Rayne said: "I feel a bit sad. I have only got 13 months to go before I retire but we have got two younger people there who I feel sorry for with their mortgages. If they do go on to something, they have to perhaps learn more technology whereas I am at the end of my working life."

But Shalford Press was a nice company to work for, he said, and used to do a lot of work for the music industry, printing record labels for companies such as Polydor.

A company spokesman made no comment on the union's possible legal action, but said: "As it stands at the moment, we have ceased trading and 13 people have been made redundant."

Published Friday, April 25, 2003

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