John Lewis faces union anger

Members of Britain’s largest union Unite will protest the decision at John Lewis Partnership’s council meeting on Monday.

According to Unite, over 250 workers from Stead McAlpin in Carlisle and JH Birtwistle in Lancaster fear for their jobs and pensions, following the announcement of the sale to Apex Textiles in September.

Unite regional industrial organiser Alan McGuckin said: “Jobs are at threat and we know the final salary pension will go next year under the new owners. Such is the anger and concern of our members that they are bringing their protest to London. John Lewis partners need to know what is being done in their name.

“It cannot be right for a company which prides itself on fairness and co-operation to be selling loyal workers down the river.

“John Lewis prides itself on being a partnership, but this disputes shows that, like workers everywhere, its staff are employees who need the protection of a trade union,” he says.

At the time of the announcement, John Lewis Partnership insisted fears of job cuts were unfounded and it will pay the affected staff about£2 million to compensate for the loss of the famous John Lewis Partnership benefits, which include annual bonuses and subsidised holidays.

John Lewis Partnership chairman Charlie Mayfield said: "No other business would have gone to the lengths we have gone to to make these businesses work. We have done our very best to put these businesses on the best possible footing. It is a very difficult situation and we have only made these decisions after careful consideration.”