UP to 90 jobs are at risk after sausage skin producer Devro announced plans to close one of its Scottish sites.
The food manufacturer launched a period of consultation which started yesterday for workers based in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire.
Devro, which supplies collagen casing for food, said a review of its manufacturing operations had concluded that the firm has “excess infrastructure”.
It intends to increase the range of products made at its Moodiesburn site, also in North Lanarkshire, which recently received a £2 million investment.
Chief executive Rutger Helbing said: “Scotland will remain strategically important to Devro’s global operations.
“However, the collagen market is evolving and we must look at how we manage our business and stay competitive.
“Decisions like this are never easy. I know this will be an uncertain time for many colleagues, their families and the wider community.
“Our priority now is to ensure we have the right support in place for those who may be affected by these plans.”
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Unite the union pledged yesterday to support the workforce affected by the announcement.
Unite, which represents the workforce, has pledged to do all it can to support the workers at Bellshill to ensure that no compulsory redundancies take
place. Unite is also calling for commitments by Devro to retain all modern equipment in Scotland rather than it being shipped abroad.
Unite’s regional industrial officer, Wendy Dunsmore, spoke out saying: “The announcement by Devro to close its Bellshill site with 87 job losses is devastating for the workforce.
“It’s vital that everything is done through this consultation period to ensure there are no compulsory redundancies. The company has stated that it wants to increase the range of products at its nearby site in Moodiesburn.
“We are calling on the company to guarantee job security and a future for the Moodiesburn site. As part of this process, it will be vital to protect and safeguard all modern equipment in Scotland.”
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