BOSSES at Blackwell's Books have a special meeting next week to brief staff about redundancies.

Staff will learn next Wednesday at the meeting at Worcester College, Oxford, how they will be affected by the planned integration of the BH Blackwell and Blackwell North America divisions.

About ten people are expected to lose their jobs in January when the two divisions amalgamate to form the new Blackwell's Book Services.

The company's question-and-answer sheet on the project says: "One of the key areas of savings is the removal of things we do twice. Inevitably this involves a reduction in the number of people we employ, both here and in the US."

UK departments affected are customer services, series acquisitions, new titles, and distribution.

The news sheet to staff says: "Individuals within these departments will be the first to hear what the numbers are specific to them."

It adds that each member of staff affected by the redundancies will have a letter by the end of the week "setting out their individual situation."

Director of Blackwell's Book Services UK David Taylor told the Oxford Mail: "All 200 people in the division are being fully briefed about the integration and about 40 or 50 people will find their work patterns change. We did not legally have to tell staff yet of our plans, but we are anxious to keep them informed."

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