SIR – You reported that 300 jobs are set to go at the Serco Shop Direct call centre (Worcester News, March 8).

Local MP Robin Walker said: “There is a 90-day consultation period taking place right now, which is very important to mention, and I will help where I can.”

Well, Mr Walker, there is something you can do which will help others in future.

The coalition Government want to slash the 90-day consultation period where more than 100 redundancies are envisaged to just 45 days.

They also plan to end the right to redundancy compensation for employees on fixed-term contracts.

Worcester Trades Union Council says the last thing we need is for the Government to make it easier to sack people.

Unemployment has not gone as high as many people feared because employers have worked with unions to save jobs, even if it has meant sharing round fewer hours and less work.

The need to consult unions has made an important contribution to that and also given staff, many of whom will have had years of loyal service, time to think through their options.

These measures will not create a single extra job. The idea that an employer will change their mind about taking someone on because the statutory redundancy consultation period has been reduced from 90 to 45 days is absurd.

Removing consultation rights from fixed-term contract staff will seriously increase job and financial insecurity for vulnerable groups of workers.

So if you really want to do something, Mr Walker, you could ask your colleagues to drop these spiteful and pointless plans and do something to get growth going again in the economy.

BRYN GRIFFITHS Secretary, Worcester Trades Union Council