Dundee building firm Muirfield Contracts has called in administrators and placed its staff on indefinite gardening leave.
Contractors complained of being locked out of the company’s headquarters on Tuesday as management spent hours in crisis talks hoping to stave off the threat of administration.
However, workers were given letters on Wednesday confirming the firm is to call in administrators. Staff were also told they are being placed on gardening leave.
Only office workers and management were allowed to attend the meeting at Muirfield’s headquarters on George Buckman Drive.
Contractors gathered outside the gates before dispersing shortly after 10am and few were optimistic about the chances of keeping their jobs.
Vic Thompson said: “We got letters saying we’ve been put on gardening leave while they call in administrators.Are you affected by Muirfield’s problems? Contact The Courier by phoning 01382 575130 or emailnews@thecourier.co.uk“I’ve worked here for 11 years and now there’s going to be about 200 people all looking for the same type of job.”
Mr Thompson said there had been rumours Muirfield Contracts was in difficulty but the full extent of its problems did not come become apparent until Wednesday morning.
“There were the usual Chinese whispers around the sites,” he said.
George Ramsay, Tayside and Fife regional organiser for trade union UCATT, said: “Some workers received a letter saying administrators are about to be appointed and they are basically on gardening leave.
“We have to wait to see who the receivers are.”
Ofice workers were later seen leaving Muirfield’s offices with what appeared to be the contents of their desks.
However, they declined to speak to the press.For more on this story, including full reaction, see Thursday’s Courier or try our digital edition.