Over 100 shop floor jobs at JCB have been saved after workers agreed to working shorter hours.

The digging making firm announced plans to cut 290 jobs earlier this month due to slowdown in global markets.

However, the vote last Friday now helps the company to avoid making compulsory redundancies.

Following consultations between JCB and the GMB union, the number of planned redundancies was reduced to 235.

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Members will also work shorter hours (reduced from 39 to 34) for the next three months until the end of February.

Gordon Richardson, GMB Works Convenor at JCB, said members should be congratulated on the ballots result.

"It's a magnanimous act which is in the spirit of the approaching festive season and means that over 100 people who were under threat of compulsory redundancy will now have a much happier Christmas," he said.

Graeme Macdonald, JCB Chief Executive, added: "JCB and the GMB were determined to do everything possible to avoid compulsory redundancies through a combination of voluntary redundancies, early retirements and flexible working. It highlights a great team spirit at JCB and also means we can retain some vitally important skills."

(LM/CD)