A union has said over 100 workers at the Jaguar Land Rover plant in Halewood have had their jobs saved.
The workers, who are employed by agency Staffline, were told last month they were to be "let go" after the JLR site announced it was temporarily ceasing production due to the coronavirus crisis.
Unite the union said it had intervened and that following the support of local MP Maria Eagle, Staffline had reversed its decision - and the workers will instead be furloughed, with the Government set to cover 80% of their wages.
Unite regional officer Alison Spencer Scragg said: “Following Unite’s intervention and the support of Maria Eagle, I am pleased that Staffline and DHL have reversed their decision and that these workers have been furloughed rather than be made redundant.
“During these unprecedented times it is imperative that employers act responsibly and utilise the government job retention scheme wherever possible.
“If this group of workers had been made redundant then given the present economic circumstances it would have been very difficult for them to find alternative work and those affected would have been forced onto universal credit.”
In March, the ECHO reported that Staffline jobs had been axed at the plant - but that the decision was "not linked to coronavirus".
A source familiar with the situation at the plant told the ECHO: “I think it’s disgraceful that DHL has chosen to do this.
“They could have applied to the government for the 80% pay for the members of staff who have been laid off but that doesn’t seem to have been considered at all.
“They’re getting rid of staff when there’s no jobs out there. These people are now stuck at home with no wages with families to feed. DHL are kicking people while they are down.
“80 people were sacked on Friday. They just phoned round everybody and finished them up. It’s a disgrace.”
