The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Workers stunned by factory ‘closure’
Workers at a Peterborough manufacturer of holiday lodges have spoken of their shock after they say staff were told to ‘pack their tools and go home’.
Staff at the family-owned Lesko Park and Leisure Homes,inTheLinks,Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, say they were gathered together in the factory on Wednesday tobetoldtheywerebeingsent homeandwouldnotbegetting paid.
Now they are calling for directors of the company to explain what has happened and what the future holds.
They have told the Peterborough Telegraph that the closurecameadaybeforethey were due to be paid.
A member of staff who did not want to be identified, said: “At approximately 2.15pm on Wednesday, staff were gathered and informed we would not be getting paid the next day and to gather our tools and go home. None of us have been given notice or any further news so far. We were told we should know more yesterday evening but as of lunchtime today there has been no further news.
Headded:“Themainthing staff are concerned with is if thisisalayoffpendingadministration or a lay off due to insolvency. None of us want to take other work and then be calledbackshouldtheydecide to continue trading.”
Another worker who did not wish to be named, said: "It was just a sudden stop.
"Themostterriblepartwas not letting us know before so that we could make arrangements. We have not been paid andyetwehavemortgagesand rent and other bills to pay and children to look after.”
Headded:“Itisashockand weareallstillprocessingwhat has happened.
"But no one from the company has been in touch since. Wedon’treallyknowwhatour employment status is and we are waiting for an update.”
No one from the company wasavailabletocomment.Visitors to the company’s premises in Peterborough found notices stating ‘We are closed for business’ and telephone calls to the firm were not being answered.
The situation is far cry fromlastsummerwhenLesko launched a recruitment campaign to meet demand for its products. Then the company, which had about 75 staff, hoped to initially recruit up to 15 people with more expected to be needed in the future.