Why December? Is that what the bosses up on high have said?

( fuck shit up the best you never had, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 19:38, 1 reply, 16 years ago)

That's when the work runs out
I no longer feel reticent about naming names.

I work for Grattan/Freemans/Kaliedescope/Look Again/Oli/Montage - it's all the same stuff but with different labels and catalogues.

The brands are now German owned and the Krauts have sold us down the river. We've actually traded close to profit for the last few years but the accountancy systems imposed upon us are set up in such a way that we always trade at a loss, because we have to buy our stock from our parent company at a loss.

In future all your home shopping requirements will be met from a warehouse in Hamburg and a distribution centre in Nuneaton.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 19:48, Reply)

Wot
That huge site on Thornton Road. closing?
(CheatingRabbit, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 19:52, Reply)

That huge site on Thornton Road closing.
And that huge office block on Ingleby Road closing.

And that huge warehouse by the railway line at Peterborough closing very soon.

£15 million for Thornton Road if you're in the market....
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 19:57, Reply)

That's one hell of a lot of people out of work
Anything lined up for when it happens?
(Potty Jag har smör i min rumpspringa, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 19:58, Reply)

On a personal basis
I'm not too worried. I've got skills, a broad employment background and I live on the Leeds/Bradford border - Leeds hasn't been too badly hit.

Probably 33% of the current warehouse workforce are Eastern Europeans, who will either find somewhere else in the UK or head back home - many already have.

The remaining 66% are buggered. Bradford was an economic desert even before the "current downturn", and many of these people have come straight from school and have no other particular abilities.

Cheating Rabbit will doubtless verify that a job with Grattan used to be seen as a job for life, and there are people now at risk who have followed parents and grandparents into the business.

I have the thankless task, as a fairly senior manager, of making these people redundant. So far, those that have gone have either wanted to go or deserved to go. Soon we'll be getting into the emotional stuff and I'm not looking forward to that.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 20:24, Reply)

Economic desert
About right..., since the collapse of the wool industry in the late 70's

As for "Jobs for life" at Grattan - I can't confirm or deny, but I'd suspect that it was the case.
(CheatingRabbit, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 20:35, Reply)

Are these people who work there aware of the situation?

( fuck shit up the best you never had, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 20:43, Reply)

Very much so
Which makes it all the harder.

They'll still work their arses off to get the orders out if they have to.

Quite a few seem to be "in denial" - they really don't think they'll ever loose their jobs.

Others are working harder than they've ever worked before as we sell stuff for a pittance, and take in the stock that the Peterborough warehouse (which is closing sooner than Bradford) can't sell.

As above - I'll get along. If you want to worry, worry about the staff.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 20:51, Reply)

This ^
As above - I'll get along. If you want to worry, worry about the staff.
(CheatingRabbit, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 20:57, Reply)

I wont worry as I'm sure you'll be fine
I just find it sad when people who've worked hard for so long end up out of a job because of the economic climate. Not many shops where I live have closed, but further out towards college there are so many shops lying dormant now.
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 21:02, Reply)

Naah - Too much money
I just remember when the Mill that was there before Grattan burnt down. Amazing photos of the fire in the Fighting Cock
(CheatingRabbit, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 20:00, Reply)

The Fighting Cock
Is the only business that will do well out of this, as nearly every Friday brings about a multiple redundancy piss-up starting there.

The Lord Clyde and The Black Swan (Thornton Road, not the excellent Frizinghall Black Swan) tend to miss out.
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 20:33, Reply)

Never liked the the Lord Clyde
as I was once forced (by penury) to set up Karaoke nights in it...

never been in either of the Mucky Ducks.
(CheatingRabbit, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 20:54, Reply)

That's a shame. I'm sorry.
At least you have the knowledge now so you can start looking for something else though.
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 20:00, Reply)

Not much of a consolation
but if you have a PSV, you won't be entirely without prospects!
(CheatingRabbit, Sun 12 Jul 2009, 20:17, Reply)