MORE than 1,000 high street jobs are to be axed as part of a deal to sell the electrical retail arm of United Utilities to superstore giant Comet, a trade union has claimed.
Unison said staff had been told that 55 of Norweb Retail's high street stores would be shut while the future of a further 81 out-of-town stores would be reviewed. More than 10 Norweb shops operate in East Lancashire.
Stephanie Golden, Unison national officer for retail, said: "This is a devastating announcement for our members and for Norweb retail customers.
United Utilities - the holding company for Norweb, and North West Water, which merged recently - said it was selling the retail subsidiary, which employs 2,800 people, for £51 million.
It said the price was being cut by £22 million to allow for "transitional costs" and "substantially all" of the employees would be transferred to Comet.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article