Nearly 80 jobs are under threat as a major West Yorkshire carpet firm re-organises.

Interface Europe is moving its weaving operation from Firth Carpets in Bailiff Bridge to a hi-tech operation at its Shelf site.

The firm, which bought the company from Brighouse-based Readicut last year, refused to say how many staff were involved.

But Peter Booth, national secretary of the Textile Group of the Transport & General Workers' Union, said the company had notified 77 redundancies from a workforce of 500 at Firth.

"We are trying to save as many of these jobs as possible and a 30-day notice period has begun in which we will discuss such things as redeployment with the company.' he said.

"It is better for the long-term future of our members that this company is investing in new premises and equipment, so we are not opposed to everything they are doing."

The move is part of a major re-organisation at Interface Europe, whose global operation is headquartered in the USA. It has invested £5 million at Shelf, where it employs 250 workers.

The company's plans to re-organise its West Yorkshire operations include moving the carpet weaving section to Shelf and building a t UK warehouse and distribution centre at the Wakefield Europort.

John Walker, president of Interface in Europe, said today: "These developments will result in substantial cost reduction, although significant job losses will occur in the UK, through a planned redundancy and redeployment programme, including voluntary applications.

"The overall effect of the investment and simplification process will place us in a position to sustain future growth and to continue profitable development of our business."

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