Up to 150 workers at a Dodworth car parts manufacturer are facing redundancy over the next year.

 

Staff at Japanese-owned Koyo Bearings Europe on Dodworth Industrial Estate were told of the jobs losses on Tuesday.

 

A notice was displayed in the factory, claiming the company had made losses of £23m over the last couple of years.

 

The firm - opened in 1991 - employs 360  who work a three shift pattern although this is now expected to be reduced to two.

 

Workers, some with more than 20 years' service, said the news was a 'bolt from the blue'.

 

One said he was 'gutted' at the prospect of losing his job.

 

The cuts are expected to hit all levels of staff from management down, with the first to go being around 45 agency staff.

 

Richard Bedford, of trade union Unite, said it is thought the work will be transferred to one of the firm's plants in Romania.

 

“This is terrible news for the workers, their families and the South Yorkshire economy.

 

“The nature of the automotive sector is that the car giants dictate the prices that the company sells its products to them and the consequence of that is the loss of jobs at the Barnsley plant.

 

“We want an urgent meeting with management to discuss the financial health of the company and how any job losses can be mitigated.

 

“These are highly skilled manufacturing and engineering jobs that Yorkshire and the UK can ill-afford to lose.”

 

A spokesman for Koyo said they would not be commenting.