The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
500 jobs lost as Mcvitie’ s to close site
The owner of Mcvitie’s has announced plans to close its factory in the east end of Glasgow, putting nearly 500 jobs at risk.
Pladis has put forward proposals to close its Tollcross site, subject to a “full and meaningful consultation with employees”.
The move would put 468 roles at risk of redundancy with the global snack firm highlighting “excess capacity” in Britain.
Tollcross would cease work in the second half of 2022 with production moved to other factories.
Pladis UK and Ireland managing director David Murray said: “We know this news will be difficult for our colleagues at Tollcross. Our priority now is to provide them with the support they need during the consultation process.
“Pladis is home to some of Britain’s best loved brands which have been part of the fabric of our society for nearly 200 years.
“In order to protect them for generations to come, we must take steps to address excess capacity in the UK.”
Pladis also owns Jacob’s, Go Ahead and Carr’s.
Glasgow East MP David Linden said: “It’s a massive kick in the teeth to the loyal workforce at Tollcross, many of whom have worked there for decades.
“Since 2017, I’ve been engaging with Pladis around the challenges they face as a business and I was genuinely encouraged to learn that things had started to turn a corner.
“Therefore, news of proposed closure comes as something of a bolt out of the blue.
“My sole focus right now is on engaging with Pladis, local and national government, as well as the trade unions.
“This is a deeply worrying time for everyone associated with the factory and no stone must be left
unturned as we fight protect local jobs.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “Throughout the pandemic these workers were told by the company they were essential to the nation’s response to the crisis.
“Now, after decades of underinvestment, they have decided to close this iconic factory. to
“This pandemic has created a jobs crisis in Scotland and this news will devastate almost 500 families. My thoughts are with them today.
“We urgently need a jobs plan as part of a national recovery. Ministers both in Edinburgh and London cannot sit on their hands and let more Scots end up out of work.”