Ardagh Glass Holmegaard in Fensmark near Næstved has halved its layoff round, with 50 employees now facing redundancy instead of the 100 originally announced. Director Kim Holmberg confirmed the figure to DR News, according to Ekstra Bladet.
The reduction came after about three weeks of negotiations with union representatives, which ended last week. In total 98 positions are being cut. Alongside the redundancies, 27 voluntary departures have been agreed, temporary staff are not being extended and vacant positions are not being filled.
Employees are being told today and tomorrow whether they still have a job.
The cuts follow the closure of one furnace and two production lines at the glassworks, which management said was needed to avoid a risk that the whole company would have to close. The furnace with the coloured glass shuts at the end of November. Ardagh Glass recorded a loss of 20 million kroner in the spring, after half a year with a packaging tax the company has been unhappy about.
"It's very positive that through a number of voluntary agreements we've come down to 50 redundancies," Holmberg told DR News.
"Today and tomorrow all employees will be told whether they are still employed or whether they will unfortunately be let go," he said.
"It is of course always sad, but I don't think there has been a negative mood down here. There has been a somewhat subdued mood, but I think it's good for everyone that it is finally coming to an end," Holmberg said.