By Stefan Morkis

STAFF AT THE Dundee office of a major house-builder have said they do not believe there is any hope their jobs will be saved.

Workers at Gladedale’s Technology Park office were told last week the company’s north-east operations are under review as the firm attempts to stave off the effects of the credit crunch.

The company has said they are considering closing the office completely, which would mean the loss of 35 jobs.

Although there is still a month to go before Gladedale announce their plans for the office, employees are in no doubt what the final decision will be.

“Last Friday the managing director told us we were going into a 30-day consultation period but that they want to move our work to the Stirling office, without taking on any staff there,” one employee told The Courier.

“So, at the end of the day, we will be made redundant.

“They asked us to go away and think of any way we could save the office but directors have been here for months trying to think of something.

“The current conditions mean it is hard to be bitter, but there is one guy in the office who’s been there for more than 42 years and he will be out of a job now.”

The employee said most members of staff are actively seeking other jobs— but played a huge part in Gladedale’s previous financial success.

“In the last year Gladedale made around £85m profit and the Dundee office was responsible for £26m alone,” he said.

“We’ve been making millions for them for years but when the going gets bad they go and make 35 of us redundant.

“As far as I’m aware, this consultation period is just a legal process they need to go through.”

He also claimed Gladedale recently opened a new office in Livingston to deal specifically with housing association contracts.

“If that work had gone to Dundee there would be no job losses,” he said.

Last month Gladedale, formerly Betts, had eight separate building projects under way in the Dundee area and was in talks with Dundee City Council and other developers over a ninth.

The credit crunch and lack of consumer confidence have been blamed for the need to review its operations.

A spokeswoman said it was hoped this would guarantee the long-term health of the company.