CAMERON House staff have been warned hundreds of jobs will be axed following the deadly blaze which engulfed the hotel.

In documents exclusively seen by the Advertiser, hotel boss Andy Rodger confirmed “the business is proposing an organisational restructure to reduce the number of employees across the business”.

Staff were ushered in to a secret meeting at Dumbarton Football Club last Thursday morning. A confidential source said 155 zero hours contract workers have already been let go, though the hotel denied this.

The source told the Advertiser: “We all got an email at the start of the week saying there’s a business meeting in Dumbarton Football Club and if you weren’t able to attend there would be an email sent out.

“The whole meeting lasted ten minutes. Andy Rodger came on, read off a bit of paper and all the departments facing cuts were listed on a big screen.

“We were told no questions would be taken and we could refer to a frequently asked questions sheet passed out in the email.”

A leaked email sent to staff states: “Over the past month, the company has been carefully examining the wider implications of the fire damage and we have also been working on the likely timescales for accessing the rest of the building to begin the recovery and rebuilding phases.

“Unfortunately, it is now clear that it will be some months before this work can begin and, as a result, there is potentially a significant reduction of work for employees in particular areas of the business and potentially no work available for some employees for the foreseeable future.”

According to the email, the departments facing cuts are as follows: finance and purchasing; development sales and M&E sales; administration; resort desk and reservations; Cameron Grill, Boathouse, claret jug, M&E operations and Great Scots Bar; all kitchens including Boathouse and Claret Jug; front office and nights; concierge; housekeeping; leisure; spa; marina and the Wee Shop.

Staff are able to volunteer for redundancy; however, those who wish to stay with the company will now be asked to choose a representative from each department to fight their case.

The consultation on how many and which posts to scrap was launched after Thursday’s meeting and will last until March.

The source added: “We’ve been told each case will be looked at individually so it’s not a last in, first out situation but it’s still very unsettling.

"No one really knows what to do or who to turn to.”

Politicians have been quick to offer support to employees facing the axe.

Jackie Baillie, Helensburgh and Lomond’s MSP, said she was “concerned about the prospect of job losses” at the major local employer.

She added: “The whole community was shocked by the tragic fire and the loss of life at Cameron House just before Christmas.

"Everyone in our area is linked with the hotel in some way, whether it is through knowing someone who works there or special memories of family celebrations on the banks of Loch Lomond.

“Cameron House is a major local employer so I was very concerned to hear about the prospect of job losses and I contacted the hotel owners on Friday to seek clarification.

“I understand that the lodges, restaurants and the Carrick Spa remain open as normal and staff in these areas are continuing to work and serve customers but the formal notification process has begun for a number of roles associated with the main building.

“I stand ready to work with the management in any way I can to prevent the loss of local jobs.

“The hotel owners are determined to restore the building to its former glory but the investigation into the causes of the fire will take some time.”

“As a high end hotel, the staff are well-trained and second to none so I know their skills will be sought after and I am pleased that other hotels are coming forward to help with vacancies.”

West Dunbartonshire Council leader Jonathan McColl said: “My thoughts are with all of the staff of Cameron House and the family and friends of the victims following last year’s tragic fire, and I share concerns over potential job losses.

“Should the consultation result in job losses, the council’s Working4U team will be on hand to provide all the help they possibly can to support staff in finding alternative employment or training opportunities.

“Our team works with partners including Skills Development Scotland, the DWP and West College Scotland to provide a range of support from benefits advice, work coaching, CV development, access to training and more.”

Conservative MSPs Maurice Golden and Maurice Corry, and the party's West Dunbartonshire councillors Brian Walker and Sally Page, said in a joint statement: “Staff will still be recovering after last month’s tragic fire and it will be another blow for those who now face losing their jobs.

“We are asking the hotel owners to explore every option to help the affected staff.

“The community can help too – West Dunbartonshire has a big heart, and we would urge local business looking for staff to step forward with any opportunities.”

Fire ripped through the hotel in the early hours of December 18, killing Simon Midgley, 32, and his partner Richard Dyson, 38.

A spokeswoman for Cameron House, which is understood to employ around 450 workers, said it is an “extremely difficult situation for everyone involved”.

They added: “The fire has destroyed the heart of the original building and we are still unable to say when the hotel will re-open.

“We are carefully following a statutory redundancy process and contracted staff are all still being paid their full wages.

“We cannot yet confirm which positions may be lost.

“Staff have been asked to be available to work until the process is complete.”