According to the union, the firm also intends to increase working hours from 37.5 per week to 40, with no extra pay, a move that could lead to industrial action.

Amicus regional officer Malcolm Appleby said that plans to reduce wages and sick pay and extend holiday shutdowns, were "unacceptable".

"Unless the current proposals are withdrawn, we will be looking to ballot our members to take industrial action," he said.

A spokeswoman for John Dickinson said the redundancies formed part of a restructure to bring the site in line with others in the group.
Union representatives have met with management and a consultation period has been extended to 25 January.

European office supplies producer Groupe Hamelin bought John Dickinson for an undisclosed sum last year, from DS Smith.

John Dickinson employs 450 staff at its three sites in Sawston, Cambridgeshire, Washington and Ledbury in Herefordshire.