ELECTRONICS firm Sanyo has hit back at claims that it is blackmailing staff to stay on at its mothballed North-East factories.

The company is due to close its Newton Aycliffe and Thornaby microwave oven-making operations in November, with the loss of more than 300 jobs.

Staff were given 90 days' notice of the closures in July and they have been offered enhanced redundancy packages to stay on at the factories until production ends.

However, workers who have received job offers elsewhere and wish to move before the end of the notice period face losing out.

They claim they are effectively being blackmailed to stay because to move now would mean they would receive a reduced redundancy payment.

One worker said: "Employees who have been with the company for a number of years are holding out until the factory closes so they get all of the redundancy package.

"In effect, we feel we have been blackmailed by the company to stay to the end."

Sanyo says its policy is fair and consistent and aimed at keeping staff so production can continue as long as is needed.

Staff working until the end of their notices receive statutory redundancy a week for every year worked, an enhanced package counting two weeks for every year worked and a loyalty bonus of four weeks wages.

Those who leave before the end of the notice period only receive the statutory redundancy.

The worker added: "Some employees with many years service may obtain a good offer and need to take it up before the end of the notice period.

"The company should reward that by paying the maximum amount."

David Simpson, general manager of Sanyo Electric Manufacturing UK, said: "There is nothing unusual in this and we are rewarding people who can stay because we need them until November 30.

"We are trying to be fair and consistent, but whatever we do we are not going to make everyone happy."

Jeff Morland, of the AEEU union, which represents staff at Aycliffe and Thornaby, said staff had been offered a "generous" redundancy package with very reasonable conditions.