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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| 'Callous' company cuts 420 jobs | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A union has accused a manufacturing company of acting like a Victorian mill owner after 420 staff lost their jobs with immediate effect. | |
| The Simclar Group closed two factories at Irvine and Kilwinning in Ayrshire without warning. | |
| The firm said it had been unable to remain competitive due to pressure from low cost economies and falling orders. | |
| Community, a union representing Simclar workers, said a loyal workforce had been treated callously. | |
| Scottish regional secretary Willie Paterson said workers in Kilwinning had turned up to find the factory gates padlocked. | |
| He said those in Irvine were escorted to the canteen, told that they were being made redundant and then escorted off the premises. | |
| Mr Paterson said: "In this day and age there is absolutely no excuse for treating a high-skilled, highly-motivated and loyal workforce so callously. | |
| "Simclar management have acted more like Victorian mill owners than responsible 21st century business people." | |
| Community said it would attempt to make sure that members received the pay they are owed. | |
| 'Impossible' situation | 'Impossible' situation |
| A Simclar spokesman said: "The current market conditions have made the continued operation of Simclar (Ayrshire) impossible. | A Simclar spokesman said: "The current market conditions have made the continued operation of Simclar (Ayrshire) impossible. |
| "Simclar has made every attempt to restructure and save the business but it would not be in the best interests of the group as a whole to continue to do so in the long-term. | "Simclar has made every attempt to restructure and save the business but it would not be in the best interests of the group as a whole to continue to do so in the long-term. |
| This is a human tragedy for the families involved Irene Oldfather MSP | |
| "The company will work with the local enterprise and employment agencies to offer information and support to those affected by this closure in their search for new employment." | "The company will work with the local enterprise and employment agencies to offer information and support to those affected by this closure in their search for new employment." |
| Allan Wilson, deputy minister for enterprise, said: "This is devastating news for those who will lose their jobs and their families. | |
| "Full and immediate support will now be made available. | |
| "This will offer a wide range of support, advice and assistance to those Simclar employees made redundant and not quickly finding alternative employment." | |
| Local MP Brian Donohoe said news of the job losses was a great shock. | Local MP Brian Donohoe said news of the job losses was a great shock. |
| He said: "Naturally this is a real hit for the constituency but I am confident it will not undermine its established reputation as a favourable business location." | He said: "Naturally this is a real hit for the constituency but I am confident it will not undermine its established reputation as a favourable business location." |
| Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, said: "This is very bad news for the local economy. | Irene Oldfather, MSP for Cunninghame South, said: "This is very bad news for the local economy. |
| "It is going to be quite a challenge to retrain and upskill these people and get them back into work. | "It is going to be quite a challenge to retrain and upskill these people and get them back into work. |
| "This is a human tragedy for the families involved." | "This is a human tragedy for the families involved." |
| Long-term recovery | Long-term recovery |
| Simclar (Ayrshire) will now be placed in administration. | |
| Jim Mather MSP, the SNP's enterprise spokesman, said: "This is devastating news for those affected. | |
| "Ministers must now use all the powers at their disposal to support these skilled workers in finding alternative employment opportunities." | |
| Scottish Conservative enterprise spokesman Murdo Fraser said it was a serious blow for the Ayrshire economy. | Scottish Conservative enterprise spokesman Murdo Fraser said it was a serious blow for the Ayrshire economy. |
| He said: "I call on the Lib-Lab pact to take steps to reduce the costs of doing business in Scotland and give our manufacturing sector a much needed boost, such as an aggressive purge of red tape and the de-nationalisation of Scottish Water so as to drive down charges. | He said: "I call on the Lib-Lab pact to take steps to reduce the costs of doing business in Scotland and give our manufacturing sector a much needed boost, such as an aggressive purge of red tape and the de-nationalisation of Scottish Water so as to drive down charges. |
| "Only then can we hope to see the long-term recovery of our valuable manufacturing base, which has been further damaged by today's announcement." | "Only then can we hope to see the long-term recovery of our valuable manufacturing base, which has been further damaged by today's announcement." |
| Simclar Group has facilities in Europe, the US, Mexico and China and employed about 1,800 people worldwide. | Simclar Group has facilities in Europe, the US, Mexico and China and employed about 1,800 people worldwide. |
| The group said its site in Dunfermline, where 300 workers are employed, would continue to operate. | The group said its site in Dunfermline, where 300 workers are employed, would continue to operate. |