A UNION leader told today how 940 workers at a massive supermarket distribution centre in North Yorkshire were "gobsmacked" to learn their jobs were on the line.

Paul Redgate, York regional officer for the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU), spoke after revealing that a pre-redundancy 90-day consultation period had started for the employees at the centre in Sherburn-in-Elmet.

A shadow has been cast over DHL Exel Supply Chain, which until now has operated the massive North Yorkshire warehouse for retail giant Somerfield.

But Somerfield has offloaded 171 of its Kwik Save stores in a sale to Huddersfield-based BTTF, and announced plans to gradually stop using the north of England distribution centre over the next month. Now the TGWU, which represents most of the warehouse employees, has vowed to work with the management of DHL Exel to find new business to plug the gaps which will arise as Somerfield pulls out.

Mr Redgate emerged from a meeting with management and union members at the site yesterday afternoon and described the warehouse workers as "gobsmacked."

He said: "It was the proverbial bolt from the blue. People are just stunned. Nobody saw it coming, including DHL Exel. We stand united with the management in their determination to prevent redundancies.

"Key to us attracting any extra business to the warehouse over these crucial next four weeks is that we continue to ensure that customers get a high quality service. There will be weekly meetings between our shop steward and management to review progress."

He said, DHL Exel was entering into talks with BTTF, which was specifically formed to buy the 171 Kwik Save shops from Somerfield.

"A number of these shops will be in the northern distribution area that was covered by Somerfield. I understand that a significant proportion of them might be something that the warehouse could continue to serve," he said.

Meanwhile, plans to convert a former mine near Sherburn-in-Elmet into a business park will be voted on by councillors tonight.

Selby District Council's planning committee will meet to consider a bid by UK Coal to transform 255,000sq ft of the old Gascoigne Wood pit into a site for general industry, storage and distribution.

The scheme could create 200 jobs in the area and has been recommended for approval by council planners.

Updated: 09:41 Wednesday, March 01, 2006