More than 130 staff at City Link's West Drayton transport hub will be among those to learn the fate of their jobs tomorrow (Wednesday, December 31).
The parcel delivery company, which entered administration on Christmas Eve, is poised to make 'substantial' redundancies from its 2,727-strong workforce on New Year's Eve.
The firm's Heathrow transport hub, in Stockley Close, West Drayton, employs 132 full- and part-time staff, more than either of the company's other transport hubs, which are in Peterborough and Warrington.
Administrators at Ernst & Young (EY) said in a statement: “Employees that are affected by redundancy will be offered appropriate advice and support in making claims for redundancy and notice pay.
"Employees that are not immediately affected by redundancies will continue to be employed, and paid, to help return the estimated 40,000 parcels remaining in City Link’s depots to customers and intended recipients, as well as assist in realising the Company’s assets and winding down its operations.”
The company entered administration as a result of 'continued substantial losses' and suspended operations at its three transport hubs and 53 depots across the UK on Boxing Day, before resuming trade yesterday to finish delivering parcels.
The general secretary of trade union RMT, Mick Cash, urged business secretary Vince Cable to help devise a rescue plan or initiate direct government intervention, but said both proposals had been rejected.
Mr Cash said: "Mr Cable did give me a pledge that his department is actively encouraging other options that may offer some hope.”
He added: "RMT is making it clear again today that the fight for justice for the City Link workforce goes on. This despicable and callous treatment of an entire workforce by greedy bosses who are able to fold a company on Christmas Day, protect their own money and leave the taxpayer to pick up the redundancy bill exposes the cosy relationship between bandit capitalism and the political elite."
Jon Moulton, founder of City Link's parent company, told the BBC the timing had been unavoidable.
Customers who gave parcels to the company on Christmas Eve for delivery have been urged to retrieve their packages from the depot as soon as possible.
