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Workers march over factory threat Workers march over factory threat
(about 1 hour later)
Up to 200 workers are marching from the headquarters of Hoover in south Wales to protest against the possible loss of 337 jobs at the washing machine plant. Up to 200 workers have marched from the headquarters of Hoover in south Wales to protest against the possible loss of 337 jobs at the washing machine plant.
Some people watched from their gardens and applauded the workers. People applauded as the workers marched to Merthyr town centre.
One union official at the factory in Merthyr Tydfil fears production could stop on 27 February after 60 years and the plant close completely.One union official at the factory in Merthyr Tydfil fears production could stop on 27 February after 60 years and the plant close completely.
But the Italian-owned firm said no final decision had been made and it is still in consultation with staff.But the Italian-owned firm said no final decision had been made and it is still in consultation with staff.
Hoover has said it can no longer make competitively priced items at the site.Brothers Gareth and Malcolm Williams have worked at Hoover for 72 years Hoover has said it can no longer make competitively priced items at the site. Brothers Gareth and Malcolm Williams joined the march class="" href="/1/hi/wales/south_east/7833955.stm">Workers fear the 'end of an era'
Union officials have been holding talks with management since the jobs announcement was made in November but so far the company has not told manufacturing workers officially whether production will definitely be stopped or not.Union officials have been holding talks with management since the jobs announcement was made in November but so far the company has not told manufacturing workers officially whether production will definitely be stopped or not.
Gareth and Malcolm Williams have worked at the factory for a total of 72 years. At the end of the half-hour march to the town centre, union officials and politicians addressed the marchers outside the Merthyr council offices.
Gareth Williams said: "It's terrible. It's had a lot of families in this borough, Aberdare and all over the borough. For this to close is disgusting, especially fro the youngsters we've got here. Local MP Dai Havard told workers they needed to support their unions to get a good settlement and to ensure jobs are provided locally in the future.
"What they've offered us is disgusting really - it's pittance." Good settlement
Colin Reddy, 53, from Merthyr has worked at the plant for 22 years, He said he'd heard nothing official from the company but unions had talked abiout a possible date of February 27th or March 13th but there was nothing official. The area's AM Huw Lewis said every level of government needed to pull out the stops to make sure Hoover workers were properly looked after.
"I'm working there, my son is working there, both out of work and he's got a mortgage and a young child. At 53, I'm probably too young to retire and I'm going to struggle to find work like a lot of people here.
'End of an era'
Assembly line worker Margaret Jones, 49, from Merthyr, said it was important to fight to protect the jobs.
She said: "It's not only for Hoover, it's for Merthyr itself. All the places that have shut here - it's incredible.
"It's for my grandchildren. They're going to live in Merthyr and there's nothing here for them. My father worked here in the 70s, it was the best place to work here. It's the end of an era."
Local councillor Brent Carter said: "It's not just a factory, it's an icon, it's an iconic building. It's the first thing you see when you come into Merthyr.
"I worked here myself for a couple of months when I left school and my mother worked here for 27 years.
"If nothing comes from today hopefully something else will come here instead. It would be a massive blow."
A 90 day consultation period on the plans is due to come to end next month.A 90 day consultation period on the plans is due to come to end next month.
We need to know are we going to get some other jobs and economic activity on what is a good brownfield site Huw Lewis AM However John Jones, the Unite union convenor at the Merthyr plant, said David Lunt, Hoover vice president for group human resources had told them production would be stopped on 27 February, although this could knock on to 13 March. However John Jones, the Unite union convenor at the Merthyr plant, said David Lunt, Hoover vice president for group human resources had told them production would be stopped on 27 February, although this could knock on to 13 March.
"We hope to highlight that the offer the company has given us is not good enough," said Mr Jones."We hope to highlight that the offer the company has given us is not good enough," said Mr Jones.
"We would also like to know what the Welsh assembly (government) and Merthyr borough council are going to do.""We would also like to know what the Welsh assembly (government) and Merthyr borough council are going to do."
The union official said that despite the continuing consultations with the company, there was a "realisation" that manufacturing at the site was going to end and fears the whole plant could close.The union official said that despite the continuing consultations with the company, there was a "realisation" that manufacturing at the site was going to end and fears the whole plant could close.
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 is no hope at all - it is closing," he said."There is no hope at all - it is closing," he said.
Merthyr Tydfil's assembly member Huw Lewis described the closure as a "massive disappointment" and said the effects would ripple out into the wider community. Mr Lewis described the closure as a "massive disappointment" and said the effects would ripple out into the wider community.
Brownfield
He also called on Economy Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones to help Merthyr "get some value out of the site" if it closed.He also called on Economy Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones to help Merthyr "get some value out of the site" if it closed.
"We need to know, are we going to get some other jobs and economic activity on what is a good brownfield site?" he said."We need to know, are we going to get some other jobs and economic activity on what is a good brownfield site?" he said.
"I want to see an assembly government plan on how they are going to help Merthyr Tydfil."I want to see an assembly government plan on how they are going to help Merthyr Tydfil.
"They have done it before in many other parts of Wales where an iconic employer has left the area.""They have done it before in many other parts of Wales where an iconic employer has left the area."
Mr Lewis added that the workers wanted to hold the march so that their case was not forgotten.Mr Lewis added that the workers wanted to hold the march so that their case was not forgotten.
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
Unite union officials are hoping around 150 people will take part in the march from Hoover to the council offices in Merthyr.Unite union officials are hoping around 150 people will take part in the march from Hoover to the council offices in Merthyr.
An assembly government spokesman said its services to assist workers leaving Hoover to find either new skills or suitable alternative employment would come into operation when it knew exactly who would need them.An assembly government spokesman said its services to assist workers leaving Hoover to find either new skills or suitable alternative employment would come into operation when it knew exactly who would need them.
Washing machines and tumble driers are currently made at the plant and the firm currently employs a total of 450 staff.Washing machines and tumble driers are currently made at the plant and the firm currently employs a total of 450 staff.
Aside from manufacturing, which makes up most of the workforce, it has finance, legal, IT, order processing, transport and logistics, warehouse and distribution departments which were not affected by the initial announcement.Aside from manufacturing, which makes up most of the workforce, it has finance, legal, IT, order processing, transport and logistics, warehouse and distribution departments which were not affected by the initial announcement.
The company, owned by Italian firm Candy, has a 60-year association with Wales, employing 5,000 people at Merthyr Tydfil at its peak.The company, owned by Italian firm Candy, has a 60-year association with Wales, employing 5,000 people at Merthyr Tydfil at its peak.