Goodyear Dunlop axes 400 jobs
Tyre manufacturer Goodyear Dunlop is axing over 400 jobs at a leading UK factory, it has announced.
The company has decided to end production of car and light truck tyres in Wolverhampton and transfer production to other sites.
The Transport and General Workers Union described the announcement as ‘devastating news’.
Goodyear Dunlop said it had been unable to make products at a competitive cost level in the UK despite increased productivity.
Andrew Harper, production director at the Wolverhampton plant, commented: ‘This market is extremely competitive and is increasingly dominated by low cost suppliers from Eastern Europe’.
The firm said it had told unions and the Department of Trade and Industry it would end production of car and light truck tyres at Wolverhampton and that up to 420 workers could be affected.
Cyril Barrett, TGWU convener at the factory, said: ‘The slow bleeding of jobs and skills has drained the lifeblood out of the Goodyear facility. For the past three years our members have faced a bleak Christmas and uncertain New Year as a result of job cuts following major redundancy announcements.’
‘I demand that Goodyear management, the DTI and local government agencies join with the trade unions to work on a plan that can secure a future for part of the Wolverhampton factory.’
Goodyear employs almost 4,000 workers in the UK and also has factories in Birmingham and Washington, Tyne and Wear.
