MORE redundancies are planned at the Lucozade Ribena Suntory(LRS) plant in Coleford – potentially the third round of job cuts this year.

The company is looking to cut 45 jobs – meaning the plant could have shed 30 per cent of its workforce this year as part of a ‘transformation’ programme.

It is hoped the jobs, in the engineering, warehouse and production teams, will go through voluntary redundancy.

LRS currently employs 410 people at Coleford but 43 were made redundant in May and a further 39 are under threat as part of a proposal to move carton production for the popular Ribena blackcurrant drink to Bridgwater in Somerset.

LRS say the transformation programme has seen significant investment in the site to help it become a “world-class drinks manufacturing operation.”

Mick Pedder, the site’s manufacturing director, said: “We have begun consultation on proposed changes that may affect three teams on site.

“If we proceed with these proposals we anticipate that we would see a reduction of approximately 45 roles.

“The consultation pro­cess will last for at least 45 days before any redundancies take effect. By inviting requests for voluntary redundancies, we hope to avoid compulsory redundancies as far as possible.

“We have met with the Unite union and are aligned in a proposed approach to invite impacted employees within relevant teams to express an interest in voluntary redundancy.

“We are in regular contact with the county and district councils, as well as the local MP, and they are aware of our ongoing transformation prog­ramme, which has seen significant investment in the site to help it become a sustainable world class drinks manufacturing operation.

“Where possible and as a priority we will always seek to ensure that affected employees have the opportunity to apply for any new jobs.   Although we anticipate seeing role reductions in all three of the impacted areas, part of this proposed change is to have a more effective distribution of engineering

resource across the manufacturing site. This would give us additional engineering roles to provide critical operational support.”

A worker at the plant in Coleford, who has asked not to be named, said: “Morale here is not too good but it depends which department you work in.

“I don’t think some people have grasped what the implications are. More redundancies will be going on as they go through each department one at a time so more people will be affected as time goes on."

An LRS spokesman said: “From the start we have been clear  with all employees  on the objective – to ensure  that Coleford become a world class drinks manufacturing operation that is sustainable for the long-term. 

“That is what has driven our proposals and the way we phased both the investment and the changes that have been made to date. 

“Consumer needs are continuously changing and we need to able to adapt quickly to respond to them.

“We have two separate ongoing consultation processes happening cur-

rently. A proposed outsourcing of our remaining Ribena Carton business to Refresco and, independent to our proposal for cartons, we are in consultation on a proposal impacting our

engineering, warehouse and production areas. The two consultations are separate and independent of each other. 

“Throughout we have  kept employee representatives updated and ensured that those affected have been  treated fairly and with respect. 

“We have always sought to keep  compulsory redundancies to a minimum and,  where possible,  we will always seek to ensure that impacted employees have the opportunity to apply for any jobs  currently available or that are created as part of the transformation prog­ramme.

“There has been no reference to a change in terms and conditions and we have no intention of changing any as part of this consultation.”*This article was updated on October 12 to remove an incorrect reference to the Bridgwater plant.