Some of the Cornwall operations will be moved to Brazil

Imerys has already reduced the number of job cuts in Devon and Cornwall from 780 to 600 after talks with the Transport and General Workers Union.

A further 11 jobs were saved on Tuesday, but union leaders said they had made minimal progress.

The French firm has said the changes are to protect the business's future.

The company, which employs about 2,000 staff in the region and is Cornwall's largest private employer, has blamed high energy prices, a weak dollar and strong overseas competition for significant losses.

We think they're being mean Jennie Formby, TGWU

The Blackpool Pit near Trewoon in Cornwall will close at the end of next year and some of the current operations will be moved to Brazil.

Imerys and unions met for discussions at a hotel in Carlyon Bay in Cornwall on Tuesday.

As well, as trying to cut the number of jobs to be lost, negotiations were also held about redundancy packages for those who will go.

But Jennie Formby, of the Transport and General Workers Union said the company had to think more about those who would be affected.

'Too early'

She said: "I'm sorry to say we've made minimal progress as far as either of the issues are concerned.

"On the redundancy packages, we've got people who have 20, 30 or 40 years of service with the company, and that's simply not being recognised.

"We think they're being mean and they should be giving more consideration to this."

Imerys said no conclusions had been reached yet about packages and cuts.

The company's Ashley Shopland said: "We've looked at a number of options ourselves, we've made a number of proposals and we're discussing through all of those as we carry on the process.

"It's too early to conclude on any of those things just yet."