1,000 jobs go as 22 TJ Hughes stores close their doors
05 August 2011 10:28
Over 1,000 jobs are to be lost following the announcement by administrators of beleaguered department store chain TJ Hughes that 22 of its stores will have their last day of trading next week.
Ernst & Young have said that 1,061 employees will lose their jobs as a result of the decision but that it continued to look for a buying for TJ Hughes' remaining business and assets.
Joint administrator Tom Jack said: "It is regrettable that we have had to schedule these store closures and we are extremely grateful to the employees and management at all the group's stores, at the head office and at warehouses for their loyalty and support during what has been a very difficult and uncertain time.
"We continue in negotiations with a number of interested parties for a large number of the remaining stores in the group's portfolio, and we are keen to stress that those stores unaffected by these closures will continue to trade for the time being, with new stock lines being added."
The stores which are due to close are located in: Shrewsbury, Birkenhead, Dumfries, Dundee, Rochdale, Widnes, Wolverhampton, Stretford, Bolton, Boscombe, Burnley, Chester, Crawley, Hull, Kettering, Kidderminster, Macclesfield, Nuneaton, St Helens, Walsall, Watford and Weston-super-Mare.
John Gorle, of retail workers' union Usdaw, said: "I'm bitterly disappointed by today's announcement and, even though the business has been in a precarious situation for a most of the year, staff will be absolutely devastated to hear the news their store is going to close.
"Usdaw will continue to do everything we can to support and represent our members through this very difficult time.
"We'll be making sure they receive all monies and severance payments they are entitled to and we will also provide advice and support to help them find another job.
"I'm certain many of these stores will reopen in the near future under different ownership and fascias and in these circumstances I'd hope the new owners will consider employing former TJ Hughes staff.
"As there has been no consultation on the store closures and redundancies as required by law, then we shall also be making a claim on behalf of our members for a protective award. If successful this could lead to an additional compensation payment for them."
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