Retained Stoneywood Paper Mill workers 'feel like they're in prison'
301 staff were made redundant on Thursday, while 71 were retained
Workers at Stoneywood Paper Mill feel like "they're letting their family and friends down" by going to work, according to Unite the Union.
301 employees were made redundant at the 300-year-old mill on Thursday, they're now set to take legal action against their former employers.
At a meeting with lawyers and Unite officers on Tuesday, members voted "unanimously" to claim for a protective award, according to Regional Officer Shauna Wright.
"They just couldn't believe this has happened", said Wright after speaking with members after their redundancy.
"They went into fight or flight mode with regards to how are they going to pay their bills?
"Some people have been there 40 odd years, where are they going to get work? Who's going to employ them? Are their skills transferable?
"It came as such a bolt out of the blue."
The union also met with many of the 71 retained members at the mill.
"They feel like they're in prison", claimed Wright.
"They feel no one's listening to them, they feel that they're letting them friends and family down by having to come to work when others have be made redundant.
"They want to be looking for jobs and benefits like everyone else, because they don't know when their time will come, they don't know how long this will last."
"They are feeling trapped and they're feeling not listened to."