MORE than 200 workers at a Darwen company are at risk of losing their jobs, according to a union.

The GMB has announced that 241 jobs are under threat at Lucite International.

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The union released the news yesterday, saying that redundancy notices were issued to those affected.

The company, based in Bank Bottom, refused to comment on a potential strike or redundancies.

GMB officials have confirmed that a second strike ballot is to be held. Some employees walked out in June over proposed changes to working hours.

Lucite International had proposed to increase working hours from 36 to 40 without an increase in pay, according to the union.

Officials said that it would amount to an 11 per cent pay cut in hourly pay.

Stuart Fegan, GMB national officer, said: “Lucite International is playing ‘Russian roulette’ with our members’ jobs.

“Both GMB and Unite are preparing to ballot members again to get a new mandate for escalated industrial action.

“GMB and Unite have requested talks with Lucite International including ACAS.

“The company has been trying to attach savings of £300,000 onto the coat-tails of our members dressed up as ‘manpower costs’.

“The management attempted similar changes back in 2006, scare-mongering that the ‘ship was sinking’. The workforce is one of the best in the area, always doing more and more when required.

“A workforce with strong trade union roots, organisation and solidarity, to be simply told that their terms and conditions do not compare with those elsewhere.

“The union side has always been willing to meet and discuss matters with a view to securing the longevity of this plant.

“All such attempts were met with a brick wall. The company has a one item agenda and the trade unions, on behalf of its membership, will not negotiate with a gun put to our member’s heads.

“Local management reject several constructive proposals put forward by GMB and Unite that met the company’s stated objectives.

“They offered no explanation, and what responses have been given are contradictory and confusing.

“The workforce now fears for the future of the Darwen site and with local management behaving like this, you can understand their serious concerns.

“GMB and Unite will be writing directly to the board of the main shareholder Mitsubishi Rayon in Japan requesting they urgently intervene in this damaging and unnecessary prolonged dispute by Lucite International management.”