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Jobs still at risk at Goulds

21/12/2005

MORE than 170 Heywood workers are going into Christmas with no assurances that they will still have jobs in the new year.

Efforts are still going on to find a buyer for tissue products company Goulds Design and Manufacturing in Sefton Street, nearly two months after administrators had to be called in.

A spokesman for the administrators, PricewaterhouseCoopers, said: "Trading over the last seven weeks has been very good and there have been no lay-offs.

"So far we have not found a buyer, but there is still considerable interest from potential buyers and we remain optimistic that one will be found."

Union bosses say it is an unusual crisis, because it is affecting a company which produces tissue products among the best in the business.

Glyn Beaver, district official of the main union involved, Amicus, said: "I suppose it could be read that no news is good news. The fact that the company is still there and still producing is good news in itself.

"We haven't been informed of any plans to lay people off, so we have to remain hopeful that Goulds can be saved."