HUNDREDS of Swindon staff are facing redundancy – because of ‘globalisation gone mad’.

Tyco Electronics UK, which has its head office in Dorcan, is understood to be making 223 workers redundant.

This includes around 100 employees at its Cheney Manor factory. Work will be transferred to the Czech Republic.

Tyco designs and manufactures electronic components.

John McGookin, regional industrial organiser at the Transport and General Workers’ Union (TGWU), said: “There was a meeting at which it was announced the Cheney Manor site would be closed by the end of 2009 and there would be a phased move to the Czech Republic.

“This news is absolutely devastating for the workers and for Swindon.

“We, as unions, are now in a siege mentality.

“Every employer in this town seems to be cutting jobs like there’s no tomorrow.

“When you consider all the jobs we are losing – with Honda and all its suppliers – it’s a very worrying time.

“The guys in Swindon are the victims of globalisation gone mad.”

John said it was now difficult to see a future for the company in Swindon.

“Considering there’s now not much left of the company in the Swindon area, they have gone from five sites down to just two, I have to say I fear for them.”

Despite repeated attempts, the Adver was unable to speak to anyone from Tyco Electronics UK.

Mike Ratcliff, communications manager in America, said: “I can tell you we have announced a reduction in Swindon. This is part of an initiative to lower our worldwide workforce by 2,500 between now and the end of March.

“We announced a few redundancies here before Christmas and some on Wednesday.

“We have been making a number of changes including redundancies and shutting plants.

“The Cheney Manor plant is to close and that plant will move over to the Czech Republic.

“I cannot say that everyone will lose their jobs but all manufacturing jobs will be affected.

“Once the process is complete in 2010 some may relocate to Dorcan. At the moment I am not aware of any other announcements, but in the economic climate we have to continue to monitor our forecasts.”

The daughter of one worker said: “This has been a bad week because my husband works for Honda and my mum works for Tyco.

“She doesn’t know yet whether she will be made redundant but they have been told that the workers at the Cheney Manor factory will go and that the workers at Dorcan are at risk.

“She is a single mother and rents her house, so I don’t know what will happen to her if she gets made redundant.”

A 49-year-old machine operator said: “It’s not a shock to me. Everyone knew something was going on because over the past couple of years – bits of our work have gone to the Czech Republic.

“It bothers me that they are still giving out dividends while this is going on.

“At the moment I am worrying about a number of things but really paying the bills and my mortgage has got to be at the top of the list. Everyone in the shop has got a mortgage, it’s awful.”