job losses

Lancashire County Council is to cut 2,500 jobs by 2016 as the coalition government's cuts bite hard.

The Council hopes to carry out the majority of cuts through voluntary redundancy, although these are likely to include reduced terms as money saving is prioritised.

The job reductions will be full-time equivalent posts, meaning the number actually affected is likely to be higher as part-time workers also lose their jobs.

Today was a bleak day for UK jobs as three major employers announced the loss of thousands of posts.

London Underground plans to dump 750 workers as it will shut all its ticket offices by 2015.

This came despite an earlier promise by London Mayor Boris Johnson that he planned to keep all offices open to help passengers feel safer.

Services on some lines will run all night at weekends, meaning safety may become more of an issue.

This was highlighted by RMT General Secretary Bob Crow, who said:

Food giant Nestle is to create 1,900 jobs and paid work experience opportunities for young people in the UK.

The scheme is part of a Europe-wide commitment to support youngsters, and comes after a Nestle survey showed a lack of decent work placements was holding them back.

Fiona Kendrick, Nestle chief executive, said: “Sadly, young people in the UK and Ireland are stuck in a catch-22 situation - they can’t get a job without experience, but can’t get experience without a job.”

The Grangemouth petrochemical works near Falkirk is to close down with the loss of more than 800 jobs.

The refinery, owned by Ineos, is the largest industrial site in Scotland, and produces most of the fuel for Scotland, the north of England and Northern Ireland.

In addition to the direct workers, the site employs sub-contractors, meaning the final toll of job losses may be more than 1,000.

Employees were told at a meeting this morning and called the decision "shocking".