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Job losses due at Carnaby firm
WORKERS at a Carnaby motor company face an anxious wait to find out if they will lose their jobs after it indicated redundancies were likely.
Garland ML, formerly known as Carmasters, recently denied reports employees would lose their jobs after moving to a two-and-a-half day week, following the collapse of one of their biggest customers, 1car1.
The company sent out letters to employees informing them they were being laid off, but not dismissed and ensured them they would receive Statutory Guaranteed Pay.
But following the story, the Free Press received numerous calls from Garland ML workers, claiming they have not been paid for the previous month or received the Statutory Guarantee Pay, adding they could not claim benefits either because they were still technically employed.
When contacted, the firm's non-executive director, Barry Whittles, indicated redundancies were likely to take place.
He said: "After the loss of 1car1, the company had to put immediate action in place to keep the business going in the short-term.
"The second thing was to identify measures to try and resurrect the company and Mike Garland has been doing some really good work in working with new clients.
"It is inevitable that redundancies will be made and the management are following company and industry procedures, but I cannot comment on individual cases.
"We are mindful to the employees and managed to pay the salaries of those kept on last month, which was a task in itself, and we are working hard to keep the company going.
"It wouldn't do any good for anybody if the company was to go and we are trying to limit the damage."
One worker affected by the situation is Jamie Hughes, who said the problem has left him in a "catch 22" predicament, as he is unable to claim benefits, because he has not been made redundant.
Mr Hughes, 43, of Trinity Grove, has worked for the company for more than a year. He said: "I haven't been paid for the last month and we should have received the SGP.
"I am in a catch 22 situation because I can't claim any benefits as I'm not unemployed, but they are still paying other people and I haven't received a penny."
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Weather for Bridlington
Thursday 24 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 19 C
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