Closure of factory near Wolverhampton is a 'hammer blow'
A decision to shut a manufacturing plant with the loss of 141 jobs was today described as a 'hammer blow' to the workforce and their families.
Sandvik Machining Solutions in Featherstone told staff yesterday the base is expected to shut by the end of the year.
A consultation has begun into the plans for the site in Cat and Kittens Lane. Today, Unite said they would be urging bosses to reconsider.
Unite regional officer Andy Taylor said: "This is a hammer blow to the workforce, their families, the West Midlands economy and manufacturing capacity in the UK generally.
"The jobs at risk are good skilled jobs. While this is still a proposal, many employees with long and dedicated service were deeply shocked and stunned.
"The firm claims that the plant's closure is due to overcapacity, but at the same time, it is saying that work will be transferred to India and France. We are going to explore this issue on Tuesday and ask if the closure is really necessary.
"Sandvik said last September that it was going to reduce its global business units from 150 to 125. However, why has it taken 'til now for the company to come clean on the implications of the proposal on its Wolverhampton facility? Unite will do all it can to support our members at Sandvik."
The firm makes cutting edges for tools and machines, but bosses say they need to cut back on production and costs. The Featherstone factory has the smallest production volume of any of its European plants.
A statement from the firm read: "The company very much regrets the need for this action and has begun discussions with the Unite union which represents many of the workers."
Sandvik's inserts global production director Richard Harris said: "Our biggest focus is to support employees facing redundancy in finding alternative employment."
Mr Harris, who is based in Sweden but was at the Featherstone site from 2002 to 2009, said: "The proposal is to ramp down production from June to August." He added that it was likely that the site would be sold off once production ended. Today's announcement does not affect the company's base in Manor Way in Halesowen.