260 jobs axed at Hoover plant
Hoover, the household name in domestic appliances, said yesterday it plans to ship production of its vacuum cleaners to China, with the loss of more than 260 jobs at the Cambuslang plant in Glasgow.
Amicus, the engineering union, slammed the decision, saying the “bitter pill” was yet another “devastating blow” for UK manufacturing.
The union said up to 1,000 jobs could go in local service and supply industries. Hoover said it would keep about 100 service and design jobs going at the site.
Wages in China are a 10th of those in Scotland.
Hoover said yesterday: “Despite improvements in efficiency made over many years, continued production is proving uneconomic and unviable in today’s market conditions.”
“Here we have yet another iconic UK brand switching production overseas. I implore the government to introduce stronger employment protection to stem the flow of manufacturing jobs abroad,” Derek Simpson, co-leader, said.
John Quigley, Amicus Regional Secretary for Scotland said: “This is a terrible blow not only to our members at Cambuslaing but to the community as well who will suffer as a result of Hoovers redundancy threat.”
Derek Simpson, Amicus General Secretary implored the Government to halt the flow of manufacturing jobs abroad.
Scottish National Party economy spokesman, Jim Mather, said extra powers and incentives were needed to keep firms working on Scottish soil.
Scottish Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace said he was “extremely disappointed” by the decision.
