More Job Cuts at Carpets International

Killinchy, Ireland, Sept. 25--Around 160 workers are to lose their jobs at a Northern Ireland textiles company which went into receivership a month ago. The announcement at Carpets International (UK) Ltd in County Down was made on Wednesday. The company's Killinchy plant is to close on Friday with the loss of 55 jobs, while more than 100 workers are to lose their jobs at the factory in Donaghadee. The receivers, who moved in a month ago, have said they are to begin an "orderly wind down of the entire business." In Donaghadee, 120 workers are being kept on for the moment. However, that plant is also expected to close in a few weeks' time. The closure will not affect negotiations with a number of possible buyers. A month ago, the Bradford-based Carpets International firm whose operations were put up for sale, made 140 people redundant in Northern Ireland. The redundancies were part of a swathe of nearly 300 redundancies across the United Kingdom. Britain's largest carpet manufacturer, Carpets International trades under the Kosset, Wilton Royal and Abingdon brands. In the last 12 months, the firm has suffered heavy competition from imports and falling demand in the UK as consumers moved away from traditional floorcoverings. Carpets International acquired the Killinchy operation from Northern Ireland Spinners in 1999. It originally purchased the Donaghadee factory under the CV Carpets acquisition by Shaw Industries in 1985. Responding to news of the redundancies, Alliance deputy leader and former North Down Assembly member Eileen Bell said: "I am very disappointed for the workers, but I would hope that the ongoing negotiations with the two prospective buyers will produce a favourable result and possible reemployment for at least some of the workers. "I have been assured by the receivers that all workers will be properly dealt with regarding pensions and so on."

Related Topics:Coverings, Shaw Industries Group, Inc.

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