Fight to save plant starts now

Michelin may have its origins in France but it is part of the fabric of Dundee and has been for decades.

The Courier stands behind every one of the workers whose jobs are to be lost. That there were problems at the Michelin plant was no surprise.

The devastating scale of the difficulties, however, was a wellkept secret. Today we reveal that the decision to close the factory was taken almost exactly one month ago, on October 9.

So what has happened since to protect the hundreds of staff who, through no fault of their own, are to lose their livelihoods thanks to a situation well beyond their control?

Many have given their entire working lives to the plant. All that toil and effort was wiped out during a 10-minute briefing yesterday morning.

Most of the near 850-strong workforce already knew their fate, but that cannot have made official confirmation any easier to hear.

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has pledged to establish an action group in a bid to save the factory.

It is due to meet for the first time on November 12 – but why the delay?

A taskforce should be meeting now.

The UK and Scottish governments, unions and Michelin bosses need to set any politics to one side and put Michelin workers first. Every minute is precious. Too much hard work, too much history, is at stake.

Now is the time for every agency and every individual involved to come together and begin the fight for Michelin Dundee.