This newspaper broke the news last week that Sudbury-based engineering firm Delphi Diesel Systems, which currently employs about 700 people at its Newton Road plant, intends to lose 91 permanent and 85 temporary staff over the coming months.
The restructuring, which will be achieved by voluntary redundancy where possible, is part of a plan to outsource the manufacture of non-core components to a factory in Romania.
Mr Cartlidge, from Assington, near Sudbury, said he was disappointed to hear the news and expressed concerns about the future of staff affected by the decision. One of his first jobs in his new post will be to meet senior staff at Delphi this afternoon to discuss the restructuring plans.
Mr Cartlidge said: “I will be meeting management to ask about the precise details of their plans and seek assurances about future commitment to Sudbury.
“Delphi is a key player in Sudbury’s manufacturing sector and it’s vital that we can find ways to ensure that businesses of all types are able to thrive in the town. Of course, the overall picture is still one of very low unemployment in Babergh district but this news shows why it’s so important that we are not complacent and why we must work hard to maintain a strong local economy.”
Last week, Delphi spokesman Gary Mineards confirmed the company had entered into discussions with employee representatives on the “uncompetitive nature” of its Sudbury plant, which would in the future focus on “high-tech” manufacturing.
Jack Owen, chairman of the local branch of the Unite union and former Delphi employee, said he was worried about the future of the plant. He added: “At the end of the day, there will be 176 people laid off by Delphi, which is bad news for Sudbury.”
- Published in the EADT