PILKINGTON has announced the 'progressive' loss of 1,900 jobs worldwide and some of those redundancies could be made at the company's Eccleston site.

The redundancies are part of the company's restructuring programme and the majority of losses will be spread across Europe and North Africa. Pilks say it will strengthen their competitive position.

The redundancies are still the subject of detailed discussion with employees, unions and the relevant authorities, although reductions totalling 600 were made during 1995 and the early part of this year.

A spokesman for Pilkington said: The company is looking mainly at the automotive business in the US and Europe, but jobs at the Eccleston site - where 720 people are employed - could be affected. At this moment in time, however, it is impossible to talk numbers."

A statement from the company explaining the restructuring programme reads: "This programme will improve operating efficiencies and yields and further reduce overhead costs. It will strengthen Pilkington's competitive position as a major supplier to the automotive and architectural markets in both Europe and the United States, making optimum use of the group's newly expanded asset base. The company expects that a rapid and progressively increasing pay back will arise, with the full benefit being realised by the end of 1998.

The restructuring programme is planned to be self financing in cash terms.

"Pilkington is continuing with its investment strategy in the less developed but high growth markets of South America and Asia.

"The restructuring will result in the write down of £85 million of assets and cash costs of one-off redundancy and restructuring totalling £70 million over three years. As a consequence the group intends to take an exceptional charge to profits in 1995/96 of £155 million, to provide for these in full."

The statement added: "The results for the current year to March 31, 1996, before taking account of the exceptional charge referred to, have been affected by the strike at General Motors' plants in North America which has only just come to an end. This stoppage led to LOF to temporarily lay off 1,000 employees from its fabrication workforce. In addition severe winter conditions in continental Europe have affected construction activity and contributed to a general weakening of glass prices. However, costs continue to be taken out of the business and valued added product sales emphasised.

"Overall, as a result of these specific issues we expect our results for the year to be marginally below current market expectations.

"Market conditions have become difficult in recent months. Nevertheless, the Board expects further progress in 1996/97, underpinned by the restructuring actions."

Group chief executive, Roger Leverton, said: "Pilkington is determined to retain the initiative and to improve our competitive position by making the best possible use of the group's internationally expanded asset base and the opportunities it presents for us to rationalise our operations.

"The work we have done to-date on benchmarking and cost cutting has demonstrated the continuing potential within the group to improve efficiencies and yields in all of our activities. The programme we are announcing will accelerate this process."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.