WORKERS at a city manufacturing firm, who are set to lose their jobs, are continuing to be let down it has been alleged. 

As previously reported the Joy Mining plant in Worcester, previously called Meco - which has almost 100 years of history in the city - is due to close by 2023, with 150 job losses. 

Stuart Baker, the regional officer from the Unite trade union, said since Worcester News's story in April workers had felt the company had been "messing them around". 

"Some of the staff have been offered a move to the Manchester site, obviously logistically that isn't what some would want to do," he said.

"It is a folly offer, that's how it is being viewed.

"The closure calendar dates have been pushed back but it has left workers with a dilemma, take up a new job or lose their redundancy pay they have earned through years of service.

"People can't commit to a new job. It is frustrating for them."

Mr Baker said he had also noticed a "change in tone" from the firm.

"We were working with the firm, and Unite reps were going to go in and offer education and training, such as help with IT and CV writing," Mr Baker said.

"But subsequently there has been no engagement with management."

Despite attempts by the paper to gain an official comment from owners of the Joy Mining site, also known under the name Joy Global, we did not receive a response yesterday, and have not had any response on the closure since it became public.

The only official comment made by owners Komatsu to this paper has been to highlight a March press release about a new partnership with other manufacturers, to make some of the equipment made under the Joy brand.

The Bromyard Road-based firm said at the time this was being done to help “meet customer needs to reduce costs and maximize performance”.

The firm has a rich history in the city dating back to 1925, and was famously bombed by a lone German bomber in 1940.

Meco was bought by the Japanese firm in 2017.

The only official comment made by owners Komatsu to this paper has been to highlight a March press release about a new partnership with other manufacturers, to make some of the equipment made under the Joy brand.

The Bromyard Road-based firm said at the time this was being done to help “meet customer needs to reduce costs and maximize performance”.

The firm has a rich history in the city dating back to 1925, and was famously bombed by a lone German bomber in 1940.

Meco was bought by the Japanese firm in 2017.