WORKERS at a Crewe factory are determined to enjoy Christmas despite the threat of a 1,000 job cuts in the New Year.

Train maintenance plant Bombardier Transportation is facing an uncertain 2004 after the company's Canadian owners claimed it had too many workers and too few orders.

Chief executive Paul Tellier said the firm would need to 'rationalise' with a series of depot closures.

After a month of talks workers are still in the dark over job security. It has meant many families have been forced to tighten their belts this Christmas and save cash for bad times they fear could lie ahead.

The plant, traditionally known as Crewe Works, employs 1,000-plus people at West Street.

Its sister plant in Derby is also under threat and Amicus union spokesman Paul Reuter said the closure of either plant would be a tragedy.

He said: 'It wouldn't just impact on the thousands of jobs at these plants but would cost thousands more service, refurbishment and supply jobs.'

Bombardier has 53 sites in 23 countries and employs 2,000 people in the UK.

MPs, including Crewe and Nantwich's Gwyneth Dunwoody, have met company chiefs in a bid to save jobs.

Crewe union convener Mick Roberts said work-ers are not likely to know their fate until mid-January.

He said: 'We are still in this strange situation. We know the company has said it will be restruc-turing in the UK but we don't know how that will affect us.

'Everyone is trying to remain cheerful with it being Christmas but the uncertainty the situation brings is unavoidable.'

He fears weaker employment laws in the UK compared to the continent could be putting the jobs of British workers in jeopardy.

He said: 'It seems that it's easier to fire workers here than it is, say, in Germany. While we have a better operation and more orders it may be more profitable to close us down.

'But I want to stress that everything is being done to safeguard jobs.'

The proposal to close the plants has been met with fierce resistance from the union.

It is calling on politicians to strengthen employment laws in the UK and put pressure on Bombardier to retain its workforce.

Mrs Dunwoody says she will fight to save jobs in Crewe.

She said: 'There is a real crisis in railway procurement even though it is desperately needed in the UK.

'We must safeguard the jobs in Crewe where we have enormous potential and expertise and I am holding urgent talks with ministers in the Department of Trade the Department of Transport and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.'