Workers’ future is key at Michelin

In many ways the battle for 845 Dundee jobs begins in earnest today. The Scottish Government assembled task force will gather in the city to try and thrash out a package that will save Michelin, or at least secure futures for employees at the plant.

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay will chair the first session and the group will have to find a way of listening to the ideas of the large number of good people involved without allowing it to become an inert talking shop.

There is no doubt that the people who are coming together to try and salvage something for the workforce are doing so with a determination to deliver a result.

It must be hoped that will be met with goodwill from the French firm’s management when the crucial pitch takes place three weeks from now.

What an early Christmas present it would be for those factory workers to have their futures secured, rather than being left to enter the festive season in the knowledge they have just months of employment left.

In some ways, Michelin itself staying in the city is not what matters most.

Of course the ideal scenario is that the company stays, saving the jobs in the process, but even if it leaves it can make the process easier of finding a new firm that will take on as many of the employees as possible.

Finding a future for each and every staff member must be the most important target of the action group.