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| Electrolux plant to lose 500 jobs | Electrolux plant to lose 500 jobs |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A cooker factory in County Durham is to close with the loss of 500 jobs, it has been confirmed. | A cooker factory in County Durham is to close with the loss of 500 jobs, it has been confirmed. |
| Production at the Electrolux site in Spennymoor, a major employer in the town, will be moved to Poland. | Production at the Electrolux site in Spennymoor, a major employer in the town, will be moved to Poland. |
| The plant has been making a loss for the past few years and is too uncompetitive, said the firm. | The plant has been making a loss for the past few years and is too uncompetitive, said the firm. |
| It is the worst possible outcome for workers, who had hoped that up to 300 jobs could be saved following meetings with management earlier this week. | It is the worst possible outcome for workers, who had hoped that up to 300 jobs could be saved following meetings with management earlier this week. |
| There is a lot to take in for families and this is the worst possible Christmas present Jeff Morland, Unite | |
| Speaking after the announcement, Jeff Morland, North East divisional officer for the Unite union, said: "I'm standing in the canteen with a lot of our members and obviously there is a lot of disappointment, fear and some anger. | |
| "It could not have happened at a worse time and I think there will be the ghost of a few Christmases past rattling around here over the weekend. | |
| "There is a lot to take in for families and this is the worst possible Christmas present." | |
| Mr Morland called on the government to do more to protect British manufacturing. | |
| In June 2005, Electrolux invested £7m in a new line of cookers at the Spennymoor site. | In June 2005, Electrolux invested £7m in a new line of cookers at the Spennymoor site. |
| But intense worldwide competition has prompted an urgent review of its operations, according to the firm. | But intense worldwide competition has prompted an urgent review of its operations, according to the firm. |
| 'Improve competitiveness' | |
| A company spokesman said: "Following a thorough investigation about the future viability of production at the factory in Spennymoor, Electrolux has decided to discontinue production at the plant. | A company spokesman said: "Following a thorough investigation about the future viability of production at the factory in Spennymoor, Electrolux has decided to discontinue production at the plant. |
| "To improve competitiveness some production will be phased out altogether while some production will be moved to the Electrolux plant in Poland." | "To improve competitiveness some production will be phased out altogether while some production will be moved to the Electrolux plant in Poland." |
| In 2005, regional development agency One NorthEast agreed to plough £1.6m into the plant, in an effort to retain manufacturing jobs in County Durham. | In 2005, regional development agency One NorthEast agreed to plough £1.6m into the plant, in an effort to retain manufacturing jobs in County Durham. |
| An associated warehouse, employing 40 people, is not affected. | An associated warehouse, employing 40 people, is not affected. |
| No exact date has been set for the closure of the plant, thought to be towards the end of 2008. | No exact date has been set for the closure of the plant, thought to be towards the end of 2008. |