THE Mouthpeace Workers Union said on Friday it was shocked by an announcement that Anglo-American Platinum Corporation is to trim its 35000 operational labour force by 5% this year. This comes after Amplats human resources director Eric Ngubane announced on Thursday that the employee cutbacks are part of the group’s restructuring process through its breakthrough programme, aimed at improving efficiency in all operations. Mouthpeace spokesperson Pogiso Bothomane said the announcement was made without consulting the unions.