A FRESH bid to save jobs at the closure-threatened McVitie's biscuit factory will be presented to bosses today.
The site at Tollcross, Glasgow, is the last remaining facility operated by the snack firm in Scotland.
Five hundred jobs are at risk as owner Pladis withdraws. Today the Pladis Action Group, which includes the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council, will submit a fresh proposal aimed at securing these jobs.
Details of that plan have not been confirmed. However, the Times newspaper reported that this would include a proposal for a new factory in another part of the city's east end.
The new bid comes as campaigning by staff and their supporters continues.
Economy Secretary Kate Forbes said: "The action group have together worked at pace to identify and explore options to secure the future of these crucial manufacturing jobs in Glasgow.
READ MORE: McVitie's Tollcross: More than 70k people sign petition to save jobs
"I would hope and expect the senior management at Pladis to now study the proposals carefully, and to engage with the action group on them in a constructive and thorough manner."
If the closure goes ahead, it will end 125 years of production at the site.
Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "The partners across the action group have worked tirelessly over the last few weeks to pull this counter-proposal together. This proposal is compelling and would secure a future for Pladis in the city. I trust they will give it the consideration it deserves."
GMB Scotland organiser David Hume added: "We believe the proposal offers Pladis everything it needs to maintain manufacturing in the east end of Glasgow for the next generation, ensuring employment and opportunity for the local community that depends on it.
“It also represents months of hard work on behalf of the unions and action group representatives to support the workforce, who are fighting so hard for their futures. It sets out the way forward and everyone should be positive that Pladis will look favourably on it.”
And Unite industrial officer Pat McIlvogue said: "The trade unions along with the Scottish Government and other key stakeholders have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring forward a commercially viable alternative to the closure of the McVitie's plant at Tollcross.
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“We believe that the proposal put forward to build a new factory on a nearby site will produce efficiency savings and make this one of the most advanced biscuit manufacturing sites in the UK.
"Unite is asking that Pladis the owners of the factory study and positively engage with us on this proposal because we believe that everyone can win from this most importantly the hundreds of jobs at stake in the local community."
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