Kodak axes 180 UK jobs

Digital revolution keeps rumbling on

By Tim Richardson • Get more from this author

Posted in IT Director, 7th June 2005 15:49 GMT

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Kodak has axed amother 180 UK jobs as it continues to rejig its business to meet growing demands for digital imaging.

Some 130 of the job losses involved in graphic film finishing will be outsourced from Harrow to Mexico, while 50 services and technical staff are also facing the chop.

The giant camera company announced today that the job cuts are "part of Kodak's global strategy, announced in January 2004, to sharpen competitiveness and ensure that traditional products remain profitable in a shrinking market, while simultaneously accelerating the growth of the digital business".

Officials at white collar union Amicus have called for urgent talks with Kodak since these job losses come on top of 250 job cuts at Harrow announced in October last year and the closure of the Kodak plant in Nottinghamshire with the loss of 350 jobs.

Said Joe McGowan: "This is more devastating news for Kodak staff at Harrow who are facing the loss of almost 500 jobs in less than a year.

"We want an urgent meeting with Kodak and reassurance that the Harrow plant has a future." ®