No official announcement has been made, and union officials say a decision is awaited from NCR HQ in Dayton, Ohio.

When management in the UK refused to discuss the situation, the Tele sought information from their corporate bosses.

But Dundee staff were left in the dark when spokesman John Hourigan said only, “We don’t respond to speculation.”

That speculation has been growing in recent times.

Earlier this month, sources suggested that production figures for all of 2007 were just 16,000 machines and that could mean the loss of 300 jobs — almost half the production workforce at the Wester Gourdie factory.

Employees have been told production of cash machines in the first quarter of the year may be cut from 650 to as little as a hundred a week.

Yesterday it was claimed that some people had been told they would be laid off, but that was emphatically denied by the company.

The company said nobody had been told they would be losing their jobs.

NCR is one of the biggest private sector employers in Dundee, with a total workforce of around 1500.

In a recent earnings statement, chief executive Bill Nuti said, “The company’s newly-opened manufacturing facility in Budapest, Hungary, should enable incremental cost reduction in the future.”

Meanwhile, Dundee West MP Jim McGovern said today he was “disappointed” after the director of operations at the Dundee factory refused to meet him.

Mr McGovern received a letter from Allan Valentine declining the meeting and stating staff would be told first “if and when” there are any developments.

Mr McGovern said he “totally agreed” with the company on the need to consult with their own staff first.

“However, this does not mean that NCR cannot meet with the local representative and answer some questions about their current plans,” he continued.

“I am disappointed that he has declined to do so.

“If Mr Valentine’s contention is that there are no job losses and therefore he doesn’t need to meet anyone, then surely a meeting where he explained that would make sense and help quash this speculation.”

Mr McGovern said, “I do not want to make things difficult for NCR. They employ a lot of people in Dundee and have been loyal to the city for many years.

“It is important that NCR pay due cognisance to the concerns of local people and their employees. Regrettably, right now it seems to have failed in that task. That is a shame.”