Two months ago trade unionists rejoiced that 332 jobs had been saved at JCB, a maker of construction equipment, because 2,500 workers agreed to work fewer hours for less pay, although 178 had to go. That was before orders at JCB "fell off a cliff", in the words of Keith Hodgkinson, a union representative. Now another 398 workers are likely to have gone by February. This week there was no production at all at JCB's Staffordshire works. Instead, 2,000 staff were undergoing training.
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