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| Unions hold crisis Hoover talks | Unions hold crisis Hoover talks |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Unions are holding crisis talks with managers at the Hoover headquarters in south Wales after they announced up to 337 manufacturing jobs could be lost. | Unions are holding crisis talks with managers at the Hoover headquarters in south Wales after they announced up to 337 manufacturing jobs could be lost. |
| The company, which makes washing machines and tumble driers in Merthyr Tydfil, said it could no longer make competitively-priced items at the site. | The company, which makes washing machines and tumble driers in Merthyr Tydfil, said it could no longer make competitively-priced items at the site. |
| The Unite union said where there was hope it would "continue to explore the options open to us". | The Unite union said where there was hope it would "continue to explore the options open to us". |
| Unite and TUC members are to meet the deputy first minister later. | Unite and TUC members are to meet the deputy first minister later. |
| Hoover announced in a statement on Tuesday afternoon it was starting a consultation with its manufacturing staff. | Hoover announced in a statement on Tuesday afternoon it was starting a consultation with its manufacturing staff. |
| It said: "Regretfully, to ensure that Hoover Candy becomes more competitive we must consider all of our options, including the possibility of the cessation of manufacture at Merthyr Tydfil." | It said: "Regretfully, to ensure that Hoover Candy becomes more competitive we must consider all of our options, including the possibility of the cessation of manufacture at Merthyr Tydfil." |
| Andy Richards, Wales' regional organiser for Unite said discussions were resuming with management early on Wednesday morning. | Andy Richards, Wales' regional organiser for Unite said discussions were resuming with management early on Wednesday morning. |
| "We need to see what comes out of that. Presently we're hoping that there will be some scope for negotiation," he said. | "We need to see what comes out of that. Presently we're hoping that there will be some scope for negotiation," he said. |
| "For sure, I think the workforce has been aware of difficulties at the plant, exacerbated by the financial crisis, but where there is hope we'll continue to explore whatever options are open to us." | "For sure, I think the workforce has been aware of difficulties at the plant, exacerbated by the financial crisis, but where there is hope we'll continue to explore whatever options are open to us." |
| Mr Richards said he would be attending a meeting with Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones and members of Wales TUC's general council at the assembly at 1330 GMT. | Mr Richards said he would be attending a meeting with Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones and members of Wales TUC's general council at the assembly at 1330 GMT. |
| He added the union was dealing with a number of companies facing downturns, including some who had not yet made announcements of possible job losses. | He added the union was dealing with a number of companies facing downturns, including some who had not yet made announcements of possible job losses. |
| HOOVER IN MERTHYR 1948: Factory opens1973: By time of Queen's visit almost 5,000 people worked at site1985: Hoover became manufacturer for Sinclair C5 - company merges with Chicago Pacific Corportation1992: Hoover launched a disastrous free-flights offer for customers buying a product over £100 - but it could not meet demand and faced a £48m payout after court cases1995: Hoover sold to Italian firm Candy | |
| "There's things that we can do, but the scale of the [financial] meltdown is worrying," he said. | "There's things that we can do, but the scale of the [financial] meltdown is worrying," he said. |
| Questioned as to whether the assembly government could offer any realistic help to companies such as Hoover, he replied: "I don't think it's an impossible task, but the scale of what they can provide will be dependent on what they get from central government. | Questioned as to whether the assembly government could offer any realistic help to companies such as Hoover, he replied: "I don't think it's an impossible task, but the scale of what they can provide will be dependent on what they get from central government. |
| "We're looking for the assembly to maximise the support they can give to manufacturing and industry across Wales. The scale and seriousness of the financial crisis is unprecedented." | "We're looking for the assembly to maximise the support they can give to manufacturing and industry across Wales. The scale and seriousness of the financial crisis is unprecedented." |
| The factory employs a total of 450 staff. Aside from manufacturing, it has finance, legal, IT, order processing, transport and logistics, warehouse and distribution departments there which are not affected by the announcement at this stage. | The factory employs a total of 450 staff. Aside from manufacturing, it has finance, legal, IT, order processing, transport and logistics, warehouse and distribution departments there which are not affected by the announcement at this stage. |
| 'Terrible blow' | 'Terrible blow' |
| Local assembly member Huw Lewis had said earlier this month that jobs could be under threat. | Local assembly member Huw Lewis had said earlier this month that jobs could be under threat. |
| He called Tuesday's news a "terrible blow" for the workforce and Merthyr Tydfil. | He called Tuesday's news a "terrible blow" for the workforce and Merthyr Tydfil. |
| "It is crucial that we now see a proactive response from the Welsh Assembly Government that provides for a positive future for the workforce as a whole. | "It is crucial that we now see a proactive response from the Welsh Assembly Government that provides for a positive future for the workforce as a whole. |
| "The company's statement clearly indicates that there is a future for Hoover in Merthyr Tydfil and we have to do everything we can to maximise the opportunities that remain." | "The company's statement clearly indicates that there is a future for Hoover in Merthyr Tydfil and we have to do everything we can to maximise the opportunities that remain." |
| Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said following the announcement on Tuesday he was "saddened and disappointed to hear that Hoover Candy is now considering bringing an end to manufacturing at the plant". | Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said following the announcement on Tuesday he was "saddened and disappointed to hear that Hoover Candy is now considering bringing an end to manufacturing at the plant". |
| He added he did not want to "raise expectations, because this is a very difficult period". | He added he did not want to "raise expectations, because this is a very difficult period". |
| "What I want the people of Merthyr to understand is how determined we are to be on their side and work with them," he said. | "What I want the people of Merthyr to understand is how determined we are to be on their side and work with them," he said. |