UNION chiefs have expressed fears for the future of 887 workers at a Pontypool plant set to merge with a giant American aerospace firm.

Northrop Grumman Corporation bought $7.8billion (£5.2billion) worth of shares in TRW, which has a brake manufacturing base in New Inn, to become the second largest defence contractor in the US.

Speculation has mounted that some of the New Inn site's 887 jobs may be lost as Northrop Grumman proposed to sell off TRW's automotive business.

But TRW refuses to speculate on the possibility of job losses.

Now Jim Hancock, regional secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union - of which 550 workers in the automotive parts plant are members - slammed the lack of information or consultation about the move.

He said: "The vitality of manufacturing in Wales is in the spotlight, but once again our members have had to learn about changes to their employment through the media as opposed to from their company. The planned merger between TRW and Northrop Grumman naturally raises concerns about the future.

"Those concerns would be greatly eased if we had access to full information and were guaranteed a thorough consultation over plans for the future."

Mr Hancock was so worried about the situation that he called a meeting at the plant with the National Assembly's Minister for Economic Development, Andrew Davies.

At the meeting, he expressed the union's desire for a speedier introduction of the EU Directive on Information and Consultation, which would give workers more involvement in discussions about their future prospects.

However, TRW spokeswoman Lynette Jackson said stringent US laws on disclosure of information on deals involving companies on the New York Stock Exchange barred them from consulting with workers before it was announced publicly.

She added: "TRW has been giving employees and their representatives as much information as it can at the earliest time possible regarding a possible merger with Northrop Grumman. TRW is committed to keeping its employees informed and to consulting with employees and their representatives as appropriate through well-established channels."

The merger, which was announced on July 1, is subject to approval by shareholders.