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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| 305 jobs to go at Indesit factory | 305 jobs to go at Indesit factory |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| More than 300 jobs are set to go with the closure of the Indesit washing machine factory in Denbighshire. | More than 300 jobs are set to go with the closure of the Indesit washing machine factory in Denbighshire. |
| In a statement, the company blamed the "continuing decline" in the market for the plan to close the factory at Kinmel Park in Bodelwyddan. | In a statement, the company blamed the "continuing decline" in the market for the plan to close the factory at Kinmel Park in Bodelwyddan. |
| It said closing the plant was the only "feasible" option for the company to remain competitive in the UK. | It said closing the plant was the only "feasible" option for the company to remain competitive in the UK. |
| Unite the Union said it had offered Indesit alternatives to closure, but the company had rejected them. | Unite the Union said it had offered Indesit alternatives to closure, but the company had rejected them. |
| Alwyn Rowlands, of Unite, said the announcement had come as no surprise. | Alwyn Rowlands, of Unite, said the announcement had come as no surprise. |
| He added: "They [Indesit] have been mulling this one over for the last three or four months, and today they have announced that the factory will close as of 31 July. | He added: "They [Indesit] have been mulling this one over for the last three or four months, and today they have announced that the factory will close as of 31 July. |
| Are they closing Bodelwyddan because of the UK market, or because they need to provide numbers for Poland? Alwyn Rowlands, Unite union | Are they closing Bodelwyddan because of the UK market, or because they need to provide numbers for Poland? Alwyn Rowlands, Unite union |
| "We will begin consultation with the company because as far as we're concerned we have put alternative proposals in front of them which would have safeguarded jobs at Bodelwyddan. | "We will begin consultation with the company because as far as we're concerned we have put alternative proposals in front of them which would have safeguarded jobs at Bodelwyddan. |
| "But clearly, they wanted to close it irrespective of anything. | "But clearly, they wanted to close it irrespective of anything. |
| "We will continue to put forward those alternative proposals but if closure is inevitable, then we will do everything we can to help those affected." | "We will continue to put forward those alternative proposals but if closure is inevitable, then we will do everything we can to help those affected." |
| Mr Rowlands said Bodelwyddan's position had not been helped by the fact Indesit recently opened a factory in Poland. | Mr Rowlands said Bodelwyddan's position had not been helped by the fact Indesit recently opened a factory in Poland. |
| BBC News is tracking where jobs have been created and lost around the UK BBC UK jobs tracker | BBC News is tracking where jobs have been created and lost around the UK BBC UK jobs tracker |
| He added: "Are they closing Bodelwyddan because of the UK market, or because they need to provide numbers for Poland?" | He added: "Are they closing Bodelwyddan because of the UK market, or because they need to provide numbers for Poland?" |
| Carlos Ramos, UK manufacturing director for Indesit said: "We are extremely proud of what is a very skilled and committed workforce at Kinmel Park, and it is with much regret that we have had to make this proposal. | Carlos Ramos, UK manufacturing director for Indesit said: "We are extremely proud of what is a very skilled and committed workforce at Kinmel Park, and it is with much regret that we have had to make this proposal. |
| "Despite our efforts over the last seven years, investing over £30m and aligning production capacity to match market demand, the continuing decline in the market for Kinmel Park's products leads us to believe that the situation is unsustainable. | "Despite our efforts over the last seven years, investing over £30m and aligning production capacity to match market demand, the continuing decline in the market for Kinmel Park's products leads us to believe that the situation is unsustainable. |
| "Due to this the company is now proposing to close the factory." | "Due to this the company is now proposing to close the factory." |
| The company, which also makes the Hotpoint brand, blamed a drop in demand for washing machines and increased manufacturing costs. | The company, which also makes the Hotpoint brand, blamed a drop in demand for washing machines and increased manufacturing costs. |
| Indesit employs about 2,000 people - including 305 at Bodelwyddan - and claims to be the UK's largest "white goods" company by market share. | Indesit employs about 2,000 people - including 305 at Bodelwyddan - and claims to be the UK's largest "white goods" company by market share. |
| There are also factories in Somerset and Peterborough. | There are also factories in Somerset and Peterborough. |
| It said the announcement followed discussions with trade union representatives, and it would continue with a formal consultation with unions and employees to "mitigate the effects of this proposal". | It said the announcement followed discussions with trade union representatives, and it would continue with a formal consultation with unions and employees to "mitigate the effects of this proposal". |
| The Unite union had recently expressed concerns about the north Wales plant's future, in the wake of a company review. | The Unite union had recently expressed concerns about the north Wales plant's future, in the wake of a company review. |
| 'Black day' | |
| Clwyd West MP David Jones said it was a "very black day for north Wales," and he had written to the Department for Work and Pensions and the Welsh Assembly Government to request support to help staff find re-employment. | |
| He added: "Hotpoint has been a major employer in this area for many years. Generations of the same family, in some cases, have worked for the company. | |
| "In the current economic climate, it will not be easy to find new work for those who are about to be made redundant. "However, I intend to work with the Hotpoint management and the unions with a view to seeing what can be done to minimise the impact on the workforce." | |
| North Wales AM Eleanor Burnham called for any affected workers to be supported. | |
| She added: "Indesit is one of the main employers in the area and closing this factory at Kinmel Park will be a hard blow for the economy of North Wales. | |
| "This is an area that depends on manufacturing jobs." |