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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Shop Direct 'cutting 1,500 jobs' | Shop Direct 'cutting 1,500 jobs' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Home shopping group Shop Direct is to cut 1,500 jobs across three sites in Sunderland, Burnley and Newtown in mid-Wales, the GMB union has said. | |
| The announcement comes a year after the company trimmed its workforce by 1,150 positions. | The announcement comes a year after the company trimmed its workforce by 1,150 positions. |
| Shop Direct was formerly known as Littlewoods Home Shopping. | Shop Direct was formerly known as Littlewoods Home Shopping. |
| The company has yet to make a statement. It has its headquarters in Liverpool and currently employs 10,500 people across the UK. | |
| The GMB said the news was a "devastating blow" to the three affected local communities. | The GMB said the news was a "devastating blow" to the three affected local communities. |
| "We have been in negotiations with the employer over a long period to arrive at work practices and terms and conditions of employment to ensure the success of the company," said GMB northern regional office Mick Hopper. | "We have been in negotiations with the employer over a long period to arrive at work practices and terms and conditions of employment to ensure the success of the company," said GMB northern regional office Mick Hopper. |
| "This announcement is a body blow in an area of very high unemployment." | "This announcement is a body blow in an area of very high unemployment." |
| Shop Direct owns brands including Littlewoods, Additions Direct, Very, Empire Stores and Marshall Ward. | |
| It also bought the Woolworths name in the UK following that company's closure, which it has turned into an internet retailer. |