AN IPSWICH worker at the East of England Co-operative Society has today spoken of his frustration about being made redundant.The employee from Ipswich, who does not wished to be named, said the team at the dairy processing unit in Boss Hall were left dejected following the news that 58 jobs are to be lost due to its closure.

AN IPSWICH worker at the East of England Co-operative Society has today spoken of his frustration about being made redundant.

The employee from Ipswich, who does not wished to be named, said the team at the dairy processing unit in Boss Hall were left dejected following the news that 58 jobs are to be lost due to its closure.

As one of the longest serving employees, he claims he has been badly let down by the management due to their lack of communication over the matter.

He said: “It was the suddenness of how it happened that shocked everyone. It seemed to happen overnight. Even the unions didn't have any time to put their thoughts together.

“I feel let down after all the years of service I have given. There is a lot of bad feeling around as it just happened after Christmas when everyone was already broke. One young guy has just had his mortgage authorised so the timing couldn't be worse for him.

“We haven't been given any date of when we are leaving, which is difficult because I have been applying for other jobs and you can't say when your finishing date is. There has been no mention of severance pay either.”

The worker is hoping to get a driving job at another firm but admits it will be tough going somewhere new after so many years at the same company.

He added: “I have got a family to support and I think many of us are in the same boat. We are still in shock.”

The East of England Co-operative Society is in discussions with Dairy Crest Limited, which is likely to lead to the transfer of the Co-op's entire dairy distribution business in February 2008.

The Society said the move would result in the closure of its Ipswich processing dairy in early March.

A representative for Usdaw, the main union of the employees, had a meeting with the Society on Tuesday. The union were unavailable for comment.

A spokeswoman for the East of England Co-operative Society said: "We are still in discussions with Dairy Crest over the proposed transfer of the Society's dairy business. Last week's announcement was the start of a consultation process with employees, who have been informed of the situation and are able to contact our HR Services department on the dedicated free phone hotline should they have any further queries.”

Are you one of the employee involved? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.