Job cuts hit coal, tractor and IT industries

Coalmining in the UK has suffered a terrible blow with the announcement last month of the closure of the Selby complex in Yorkshire with more than 2,000 miners losing their jobs. Around 300 miners will leave this year, 500 next year and most of the remainder will leave in the first half of 2004.

The mineworkers' union NUM said any decision to close the coalfield would be "ludicrous", arguing that millions of tonnes of coal remained at the complex.

Massey-Ferguson is to stop production at its Coventry tractor plant with the loss of around 1,000 jobs. The plant will close in June 2003, and operations will be switched to Beauvais, France. Parent company Agco said moving to the Euro zone would help "improve their competitive position".

Peter Booth, national organiser for manufacturing at the T&G general union, described Agco actions as "immoral". He said: "We believe there is no credible reason for closure. The tractors are in demand. The order book is full and our members are being asked to work regular overtime."

Hewlett-Packard is cutting 630 jobs at its Compaq manufacturing plant in Scotland. The cuts involve around half the workforce at the factory in Erskine, Renfrewshire.

Danny Carrigan, Scottish regional secretary of Amicus, said: "This is another nail in the coffin of Silicon Glen and is bad news for the Scottish economy."