DS Smith consults on Rawcliffe Bridge restructuring

Bob Koczulab, managing director of the Rawcliffe Bridge plant said the move from a three-shift to a two-shift operation was designed to help the company remain competitive in difficult market conditions.

"With no surprise, we anticipate that the next 12 to 24 months will be a very challenging time and we must ensure that we align our businesses and costs accordingly," he told local newspaper Goole Times.

Koczulab said DS Smith, which made 21 workers redundant at Rawcliffe Bridge in October, would look to offer other positions to the affected members of staff and that it was important to "maintain high service levels".

On 28 January, DS Smith managers met with workers and their representatives to start the consultation, which Koczulab told Packaging News would be a minimum of 30 days. 

Rawcliffe Bridge employs 165 people and did not confirm the exact number of possible redundancies.