Staff at Glasgow bakery Mortons Rolls are reportedly being issued with redundancy notices more than a week after the firm announced that it would cease trading.
The company told staff on March 3 that their jobs were at risk and on Friday a liquidator was appointed to the company. However, an email sent to staff, seen by STV News, told workers that they were no longer employed.
It read: "I regret to advise you that the company is no longer in a position to make payments for services rendered by you under its contract of employment with you. You should therefore regard your service as terminated, as from March 7 2023.
"A formal letter has been issued to your home address containing further details. The Provisional Liquidator is working alongside Skills Development Scotland and the Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (“PACE”).
"This is the Scottish Government’s initiative dedicated to helping individuals with the advice and support they need when faced with redundancy. Further information is contained with the letter.”
A court order, granted at Glasgow Sheriff Court on March 7, appears to suggest the company was wound up over unpaid tax debts. HMRC filed the petition seeking to shut the firm down, which was agreed by Sheriff Reid.
Despite reportedly telling staff they were out of a job, Mortons has teased its own resurrection via its website. A notice posted on its homepage read: "Nae rolls? Watch this space."
Calls had been made by local politicians to save the firm from going under. Glasgow Labour MSP Paul Sweeney said last week he had held "positive talks" with Scottish enterprise minister Ivan McKee with a view to rescuing the firm.
The Scottish Government said: “We are aware that the provisional liquidator has written to employees today. We will continue to liaise with relevant stakeholders to seek a solution that will allow the business to continue to trade in some form.
"The workers affected by any business ceasing trading are the immediate priority. The Scottish Government’s initiative for responding to redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE), contacted the company and the liquidator to offer to provide support to affected employees.”
PACE job fairs are taking place at Partick Job Centre on March 16 and 17. Mortons has been contacted for comment.
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