Almost 100 textile workers have lost their jobs at a Holmfirth mill.
And those left behind at Westwood Yarns may be only in work for a week or two.
Administrators who were called in to the troubled firm just before Christmas have laid off almost three-quarters of the staff with the rest remaining at work to complete existing contracts.
But the move has caused anger among many of the workers, who learned their fate on Tuesday afternoon when they were summoned to a meeting at the Washpit Mills complex.
One worker, Steven Hinchliffe, was one of those made redundant and said: “It used to be a great place to work, like a family.
“Now they have treated us very shabbily. Some of those who have been shown the door have worked there for 30 years”.
The firm, which was taken over a few months ago, ran into trouble with cashflow in the weeks running up to Christmas and the administrators were called in.
Westwood Yarns spins specialist carpet yarns at the Washpit Mills, primarily for its largest customer, Victoria Carpets, and appointed administrators Paul Flint and David Costley-Wood of KPMG.
They have now have retained 38 staff and are continuing to trade the business in a limited capacity to fulfil a number of orders that are currently in progress whilst they continue to look for a buyer for the business and assets.
They said they could no longer trade the business at full capacity given the current order book, and the remaining 94 employees were informed of their redundancy on Tuesday.
Those still at the mill will continue production to fulfil outstanding orders where possible.
READ MORE:135 jobs at risk at historic Westwood Yarns in Holmfirth - two days before Christmas
Mr Flint, Associate Partner at KPMG and Joint Administrator, said: “We are working with the employees to assist them through this difficult time. We will be providing guidance to those affected in making claims to the Redundancy Payments Office and have been liaising with the local job centre for their help.
“The business, which we will continue to run in a limited capacity for a short period, has generated interest from a number of parties for a potential sale as a going concern. We would urge any further interested parties to come forward for the business and its assets, which include the freehold for the 160,000 sq ft site, as well as plant and machinery.”
Mr Hinchliffe, of Honley, had worked for the firm for a total of 15 years and is angry about the rundown.
He said: “We were very busy in the summer, working seven days a week, and I cannot believe what has happened.
“We wonder if the takeover was a move to shut down the firm.
“It has all been handled very badly: I was on holiday before Christmas and found out about the problems only through social media. I then got a text telling me about Tuesday’s meeting and we turned up to find out that most of us were going.
“The firm used to be a big family. It was never well paid but they looked after the workers”.
