A VETERAN worker yesterday struggled to find the words to describe his feelings about the imminent closure of DSI Holdings, while another employee said the announcement ended any speculation of a further lifeline.
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Terry Meredith, 58, began work at the Lavington factory as a teenager, 1½ years after it opened as Borg-Warner.
In the years since, the company has had various name changes and fluctuations in staff numbers.
At one stage, it was the Border’s biggest employer with 1251 staff.
Mr Meredith has been with the company for 41½ years and had been hoping to remain until his retirement in seven years.
“I’m still taking it in,” he said.
The struggling gearbox manufacturer made its most recent round of redundancies in August when 67 jobs were lost.
Marilyn McMillan, 54, of Lavington, said it was a sombre day.
“It’s a good day to know our future. It’s not a good day for the 100-odd people out of work by the end of October,” she said.
A floor operator for 14 years, Mrs McMillan said she would rather find out now that the company was closing, with the announcement ending speculation.
Employees had expected yesterday’s meeting after the union approached the company seeking answers to questions about the factory’s future.
“They called us into a meeting and said they were sorry this was happening,” she said.
“They did try and find other contracts for us but said in this environment it’s very hard to do with manufacturing closing everywhere.”
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