JOB cuts at Malton Bacon Factory have been blamed on problems caused by swine fever and the foot and mouth crisis rather than its sale to Grampian Country Food Group.

Union representative John Radigan confirmed between 27 and 30 positions would be lost in the engineering department.

He spoke out after letters leaked to the Evening Press revealed that up to 30 redundancies could go in that department.

A further 15 hygiene staff and four quality assurance staff have been redeployed in production areas of the firm, now known as Grampian Country Pork.

"This is only the second time in 14 years that there has been reductions at the factory.

"They have been caused by a downturn in production over the last three years because of swine fever and foot and mouth.

"We were not expecting these cuts, but having looked at the statistical analysis you can understand where a reasonable employer is coming from," he said.

Production opportunities have been made available to affected staff but it is not expected that many engineers will take them.

The losses come as a result of a review of the support provided by service departments at the site.

Senior bacon factory staff have refused to comment on the cuts.

However, a notice to staff from Duncan Shorrock, site general manager, said: "This review is necessary to reflect the reduction in activities and volumes on the site that have occurred during the course of the last two or three years...

"In the first instance where establishment levels need to be reduced redeployment opportunities will be available within production...

"The intent in these initiatives is to avoid job losses through redeployment opportunities however it is important for all employees on the site as a whole to understand that they are necessary to make the sites performance as a whole more cost effective...

"It is not envisaged that further redundancies will result from this review."

Ryedale's Conservative MP John Greenway said: "It is a relief that there were not more, but it is still bad for the families concerned.

"But there is no question that this has been likely given the lower production volumes which are a result of the decline in pig production.

"Some job losses were inevitable."

Updated: 09:16 Friday, November 16, 2001