Hopes of saving Glasgow McVitie’s factory dashed

The McVitie’s factory in Glasgow’s east end is set to close with the loss of 472 jobs after efforts to save it have fallen through.

Finance secretary Kate Forbes confirmed that, following a meeting of the Pladis Action Group yesterday, attempts to persuade the company not to withdraw from the site have “not been successful”.

The Tollcross factory will end operations in the second half of next year and workers have been served with redundancy notices.

Pladis has said it is moving production to other sites within the UK.

Forbes said: “I very sadly accept that our attempts to persuade Pladis that there was a viable alternative to closure have not been successful.

“My thoughts are with the workforce and their families who are now facing a redundancy situation, and we will continue to support them throughout this next period.”

The proposed closure was first announced to employees in May and the action group was set up shortly after to offer counter proposals in a bid to keep it open.

Pladis previously said those proposals “did not present a viable alternative” to closure.

Pat McIlvogue, Unite’s industrial officer, said the trade union was “hugely disappointed” by the outcome.

He added: “Despite rigorous attempts by Unite to ensure a future for the factory, McVitie’s have finally put paid to any continuation of biscuit production at Tollcross.

“Unite believes there are opportunities for McVitie’s to leave a lasting legacy by providing resources that could involve the repurposing of the site, enabling the workers and the wider Tollcross community to have a future they can depend on.

“Unite is calling for McVitie’s to do the right thing before they switch off the lights at the Tollcross site.”

While also expressing disappointment at the closure, GMB said it was “satisfied” with the redundancy process.