WORKERS at a Cwmbran factory staged a walkout yesterday over fears for their future.

About 50 employees of Arvin Meritor took action because of a proposed multi-million-pound buyout of their department by an American company. They walked out after hearing the company had struck the deal which would see the Off-Highway department moved out of the Grange Road site. They returned to work later.

Staff, who manufacture tractor brakes, said they have not been told where they will be moved to or details of their new working conditions. Shop steward Bryan Morton believed they were being moved out to make way for the company's axle manufacturing plant, which is being moved from Wrexham.

A row broke out earlier this month over the firm's decision to close the North Wales plant, with 200 job losses, and move south. Workers in Cwmbran were due to meet trade union representatives from AMICUS and the Transport and General Workers Union today to discuss the outcome of the deal.

Mr Morton said the company had shown no loyalty to the workers whose average length of service was about 20 years.

He claimed a promised 90-day consultation period with Arvin Meritor, in which all 53 staff could negotiate terms and conditions, was not fulfilled. Any negotiations will now be held with new employer, Carlisle Motion Control Industries.

"What they've done is legally right but not morally right," said 56-year-old Mr Morton. "I think the way we've been treated is disgraceful. It feels like they've washed their hands of us.

"The fear is, we don't know who we are working for or if there will be different conditions of pay."

Mr Morton said even though their new bosses were searching for a site within a 30-mile radius some workers would have to quit their jobs because they could not travel outside Cwmbran.

"I think it stinks because there is no way I can travel outside the area because I don't have a car," said Richard Maddox, 53, of Maindee Way, Cwmbran. "There has been no loyalty shown to us at all."

David Jiroux, Arvin Meritor's director of communications, would not comment on any of the workers' allegations.

"We have signed a letter of intent with Carlisle and we hope the proposed sale will go ahead on Friday.

"The employees were informed from September 15 of the impending sale with written confirmation."