IN a special statement to the St Helens Star, Pilkington has sent out a message of reassurance to its local worforce that - for the moment - no new job cuts are planned in St Helens other than those already announced.

Last week came the shock news that up to 6,000 Pilks' jobs could be axed globally and many St Helens workers feared they might be among the casualties.

Pilkington chairman, Sir Nigel Rudd spoke of "substantial overhead cost reductions" when announcing the company's half year statement and this was followed by the worrying predictions that between 4,000 and 6,000 jobs could be scrapped and sites closed.

Last year, Triplex announced that 140 workers were to lose their jobs. This was followed earlier this year by a further 220 to go at the Greengate and Cowley Hill sites and 85 at the Watson Street works.

A spokesman for Pilkington told the Star: "These decisions were made some time ago and were widely reported on at the time. As far as we know, there are no more planned losses for St Helens. However, maintaining efficiency is an ongoing process and we will be continuing to monitor the situation closely."

Latest figures show that Pilkington's pre-tax profit is £67 million against a total turnover of £1.41 billion. In May, the St Helens-based operation appointed Paolo Scaroni as chief executive charged with returning the group to profitability.

Dave Watts, the MP for St Helens North, told the Star: "My biggest fear was that workers could be left in the dark, so I wrote a letter to Sir Nigel Rudd instructing that we be told as soon as possible. I have yet to get an official reply but the fact that no more jobs are to go from St Helens is good news.

Gerry Bermingham, MP for St Helens South also welcomed the news and added: "I would now like to see Pilkington reinvest in new business ventures in the hope that new jobs can be created in the future."

Terry Wynn, the Euro MP for St Helens said: "If this is correct then it is good news for St Helens that no more jobs have been lost. However, by the same token, it is not good news for the 6,000 elsewhere who will lose their jobs."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.