SCORES of workers at the crisis-hit APW factory in Hampshire face four weeks of uncertainty after a redundancy bombshell was dropped on them.

It is the latest body blow to staff at the US-owned company, which employs 285 people and makes electronic equipment boxes for the UK market.

More than 1,000 pension fund members are already struggling to come to terms with losing four-fifths of their retirement funds after the APW pension fund collapsed with a £55m black hole.

Now a number of them face further financial heartache with news that the company is laying off up to 30 staff.

APW says the losses will be shared equally between the shop floor and support services.

However, insiders claim support services will bear the brunt.

The job loss announcement has fuelled speculation amongst employees that operations in Electron Way, Chandler's Ford are being scaled down.

It is understood that new boss William T Allen has demanded fresh cost-cutting as APW, an international company, tries to bounce back from the crash in the global telecommunications market.

Earlier this month he replaced David Gallitano, the man who wielded the axe on the stricken British pension fund against a public and political outcry.

One worker said: "There is a genuine fear that the factory will be closed down; you never know with the Yanks.

"It's another setback for us - we've had our pensions scrapped and we now face losing our jobs.

"It's a nightmare at the moment, and quite a few people were shell-shocked when they were told the news by the company."

Redundancy consultations will take place between APW and local unions Amicus and TGWU over the next four weeks.

Staff in the firing line - up to 70 - will go through a selection process, which includes performance-related appraisals, to see who will go.

TGWU regional industrial organiser Jenni Formby said the viability of the factory was now being called into question.

She added: "It is another kick in the teeth for workers at APW, who over the years have done their best to make the company a success but have in return suffered redundancies and attacks on their pensions."

In another turbulent development, workers are to vote on strike action in the near future over a stakeholder pension scheme they are unhappy with.

An APW spokesman said: "It's about reducing operating costs and trying to protect as many jobs as possible."