MEMEC Redundancy Fears

A RUMOUR that one of Thame’s biggest employers has today made around fifty employees redundant, has been denied by the company.
Memec Europe, who are based in Thame Park Road,and who distribute semi-conductors internationally, told ThameNews today that they have put: “..45 employees ‘at risk’ of redundancy, and we will be in consultation with them for the next 30 days, by which time we shall know whether or not the redundancies will take place.”
Memec Holdings Ltd were aquired by AVNET INC, of Phoenix, Arizona, yesterday. (See http://www.memec.com/?cmd=detail&articleid=2608, for background information on the take over.
ThameNews.Net have sent the following email to Memec/AVNET, and await their reply:-

” I would be most grateful if you could forward the following questions to the appropriate person, following our information from a local councillor that MEMEC or AVNET, are to make 54 employees redundant.
I understand from you that in fact 45 employees have been put “at risk” of redundancy and that yourselves will be “in consultation” with those employees for 30 days.
Could you explain exactly what that means?
Would you mind also telling me how many employees your company has (in Thame), and the current circumstances that force you into this position i.e. market conditions, efficiency etc.
Also, what is the long term future of the Memec in Thame?
As you will appreciate, a lot of people from the Thame area work for your company so this is important news for the town, which fears the loss of so many jobs.” Ed.