By Steven Bell

DUNDEE CIVIC leaders will today hold talks with NCR management after the company announced another round of job cuts in the city.

Expressing disappointment at the decision to axe 50 posts as part of a “streamlining,” politicians spoke of the need to safeguard the remaining 750 jobs at Wester Gourdie.

NCR staff have been told of the risk of redundancy and a 30-day consultation has begun.

Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said, “I am very disappointed at these further job losses. It is tragic for those facing redundancy, many of whom have been loyal employees of the company for decades.

“It is also more jobs bad news for Dundee and gives the impression the city is struggling, which is not actually the case. Dundee’s economy is in a relatively strong position.

“NCR are major employers in Dundee and will remain so, with 750 still employed in the city. Although this is a personal tragedy for the 51 individuals involved, we have to hope it will help to keep NCR competitive in the global market and safeguard the other 750 jobs in Dundee.”

The announcement comes 18 months after NCR cut more than 600 posts, the most devastating of a series of blows to the Dundee manufacturing sector.

Yesterday’s statement said, “NCR Corporation is today announcing plans to streamline its operations with proposals for a reduction of around 50 positions from about 800 positions at its facilities in Dundee.

“NCR has been moving to a new organisational structure to enable it to improve its cost-effectiveness and drive new business growth on a global basis.

“As a result, in Dundee it proposes to merge some functional teams, remove duplicate roles and reduce the number of management positions. NCR also intends to build on expertise in its global facilities for some engineering activities.

“Employees in engineering, financial software engineering, product management, supply line management, IT supportand manufacturing have been informed that they are at risk of redundancy. A 30-day consultation period is under way with employee representatives.

“NCR understands this is a challenging time and is committed to helping impacted individuals by providing comprehensive outplacement and human resources support.”

NCR officials have offered to meet councillors to inform them of the situation. The meeting is due to take place at City Chambers this morning and Councillor Kevin Keenan, administration leader, said it was important to hear NCR’s side of the story.

He said, “We obviously hope to talk to NCR and establish the facts about this. Clearly we want a longer-term future for NCR in Dundee and, like any place of employment, we are looking for stability.”

A “saddened” Lord Provost John Letford said the talks of restructuring and streamlining were “familiar words” but did not fully explain real people were losing real jobs again.

He said, “The end product is we lose jobs in Dundee and people are deprived of their livelihoods. I just wonder when it is going to end.”

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie (SNP) (pictured) spoke to NCR Dundee operations director Alan Valentine and understood the 51 job losses were mainly in managerial and professional roles. He said, “I will be meeting local management in Dundee soon to discuss the redundancies.”