The AA was accused of "absolutely awful" employment practices after asking staff to take redundancy - via text message.

A text from the motoring giant was sent out to about 20 patrol men and women in Sussex asking them to consider taking a £12,000 redundancy package.

The GMB union said the move was "totally unacceptable".

A patrol man from the county said: "I can understand them sending out a letter or even a fax asking us but not a text message - that's very slack and unprofessional.

"A couple of my mates also got the same message from our area managers and we are all pretty hacked off about it.

"With the best will in the world I think the AA could have handled this a lot better. It feels like a kick in the privates."

Paul Maloney from the GMB said: "It is totally unacceptable to send out this kind of thing to workers in Sussex by text message.

"It shows a complete lack of respect for their staff. AA now stands for Absolutely Awful employment practices."

Two messages were sent out by AA managers to workers in Sussex on Monday.

The first said: "12,000 is still on offer should anyone wish to leave ends 31 Jan." The second said "If anyone still has the message I sent out re 12grand can you give me a call."

Both texts were accompanied by the names of senior AA managers.

The GMB said it believed the texts were "targeted" and sent to staff the company wanted to get rid of for failing to sell products.

It said: "GMB has investigated the reports and finds the messages were sent to selected AA patrol staff only.

"These are the staff the company are targeting for their alleged failure to sell AA membership and spare parts to motorists broken down at the roadside."

The AA has apologised for the texts, which went out to staff nationwide.

It said the messages were targeted only at people who already expressed an interest in taking redundancy but admitted it should have been put in a letter.

Gavin Hill-Smith, spokesman for AA, said: "With hindsight it could have been handled better.

"These messages were sent out to people who had expressed an interest. In a big organisation like the AA where patrol staff are constantly out on the road it is difficult to get everyone together at one time. The managers believed they were doing the right thing."

Thursday, February 2, 2006