Closure, however, is still regarded as the worst-case scenario. "All efforts are directed at negotiating with the union to try and prevent closure," said Polestar Direct managing director Geoff Mordt (pictured).

"The company has informed us it still trying to find a way to keep it open," said GPMU Leeds and

Central Yorkshire branch secretary Brian Brock. "But in the same breath what it is proposing is just not going to be workable."

Leeds Direct has already undergone some painful restructuring this year.

The group reduced capacity by making 50 of the 140 staff at its Dewsbury Road site redundant during February and March.

The GPMU, however, still hopes that Leeds can be saved. "We have put a number of ideas to the company, which will help it by enabling it to increase capacity without a massive increase in costs," said Brock. If the closure does go ahead the firm intends to move two of the three web presses from Dewsbury Road to Polestar Direct Nottingham, potentially creating jobs for those affected in Leeds.

Nottingham itself narrowly averted strike action recently after staff rejected an initial pay offer (PrintWeek, 5 August). Agreement was finally reached when the firm offered 2.75%.

Polestar Direct was formed in 2002 following the unification of the group's direct mail activities. The new division underwent a 3m investment programme, which included a nine-unit 750,000 Muller Martini Progress S, for Direct Leeds, which was installed in Spring 2003.

Story by Darryl Danielli