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| Goodyear closes Wolverhampton tyre factory with 330 job losses | Goodyear closes Wolverhampton tyre factory with 330 job losses |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Tyre company Goodyear has announced plans to close its only UK manufacturing plant. | Tyre company Goodyear has announced plans to close its only UK manufacturing plant. |
| All 330 workers at the Wolverhampton site are expected to lose their jobs. | All 330 workers at the Wolverhampton site are expected to lose their jobs. |
| The US company, which plans to transfer the site's operations elsewhere, said the move would "strengthen its competitiveness in the face of a challenging business environment". | The US company, which plans to transfer the site's operations elsewhere, said the move would "strengthen its competitiveness in the face of a challenging business environment". |
| MPs and councillors called on Goodyear to reconsider. Unions said the decision was "shameful". | |
| 'Really bad news' | 'Really bad news' |
| Goodyear said its plans were subject to consultation with staff and unions. | Goodyear said its plans were subject to consultation with staff and unions. |
| It said it was "determined to find responsible and fair solutions for all affected employees". | It said it was "determined to find responsible and fair solutions for all affected employees". |
| "The proposed actions are needed to help strengthen competitiveness in the face of a challenging business environment, increased competition and currency headwinds," the company said. | "The proposed actions are needed to help strengthen competitiveness in the face of a challenging business environment, increased competition and currency headwinds," the company said. |
| The firm said it was improving efficiency by transferring the production of commercial retreaded tyres and compound mixing carried out at Wolverhampton to other plants in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. | The firm said it was improving efficiency by transferring the production of commercial retreaded tyres and compound mixing carried out at Wolverhampton to other plants in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. |
| Increasing competition | Increasing competition |
| Erich Fric, managing director of Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK, said: "We understand the impact the closure of Wolverhampton would have. | Erich Fric, managing director of Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK, said: "We understand the impact the closure of Wolverhampton would have. |
| "We will honour our responsibilities and will do everything we can to support all employees who are affected. | "We will honour our responsibilities and will do everything we can to support all employees who are affected. |
| "In the face of ever-increasing competition, we carefully considered several options. | "In the face of ever-increasing competition, we carefully considered several options. |
| "However we believe these proposals are needed to strengthen our competitiveness and ensure we have a sustainable business." | "However we believe these proposals are needed to strengthen our competitiveness and ensure we have a sustainable business." |
| A spokesman for Goodyear said if the Wolverhampton factory does close, it would do so by the summer of 2017. | |
| The company has been based in the city for almost 90 years. The Wolverhampton site is Goodyear's only manufacturing operation in the UK, although they have a head office in Birmingham. | The company has been based in the city for almost 90 years. The Wolverhampton site is Goodyear's only manufacturing operation in the UK, although they have a head office in Birmingham. |
| Worldwide, Goodyear employs about 75,000 people with factories in the US, South America, Europe and Asia. | Worldwide, Goodyear employs about 75,000 people with factories in the US, South America, Europe and Asia. |
| Labour MP for Wolverhampton North East, Emma Reynolds said: "It's really bad news for all of the people who work at the Wolverhampton factory and their families but also for the city because there are generations of people in Wolverhampton who have worked at the Goodyear factory. | |
| "I am calling on the company to reconsider their decision." | "I am calling on the company to reconsider their decision." |
| Andy Taylor, regional officer for the Unite union, said the earliest redundancies could take place in October. | |
| "It's a massive blow to the history of city as well as those who work here," he said. | |
| "There has been a lot of investment here and workers have worked hard to turn things round. This is shameful." | |
| Peter Bilson, deputy leader of Wolverhampton City Council, said: "This is extremely disappointing news and we are seeking an urgent meeting with the company. | Peter Bilson, deputy leader of Wolverhampton City Council, said: "This is extremely disappointing news and we are seeking an urgent meeting with the company. |
| "While we recognise Goodyear is a global business that has to make global decisions, we would urge the company, which has a deep-rooted history with the city, to reconsider this decision." | "While we recognise Goodyear is a global business that has to make global decisions, we would urge the company, which has a deep-rooted history with the city, to reconsider this decision." |
| Professor David Bailey, professor of industry from Aston Business School, said the news was "not a shock". | |
| "The plant had become increasingly isolated. The big investments had been taking place elsewhere," he said. | |
| "It's going to be a blow for the workers but this has been a long-running process." |