Pladis Action Group meets for first time following plans to close McVitie’s site in Glasgow

The Pladis Action Group's met for the first time to discuss options for the future of the McVitie’s site in Tollcross.

Economy Secretary Kate Forbes co-chaired the first meeting with Glasgow City Council this morning.

The group will be tasked with reviewing the business case put forward by the company to identify potential alternatives to site closure.

Following the meeting, Ms Forbes said: "Today Councillor Aitken and I convened the first meeting of the Pladis Action Group and reiterated our commitment to leave no stone unturned in our efforts to find a viable and sustainable future for the Tollcross site and its workforce.

"We had a really positive discussion with the Trade Unions, Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and Clyde Gateway, and everyone is absolutely focused on the task ahead.

"In the coming weeks, the Pladis Action Group will continue to work diligently and at pace to explore all options available and provide the company with a proposition that demonstrates the support that can be offered and help retain the jobs and safeguard the site."

Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "Glasgow City Council will continue to work with the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and the trade unions to do everything we can to keep the Pladis McVities factory in Tollcross open.

"It is worth repeating that the proposed closure would be a huge blow to not only the workers and their families, but the wider city, with the potential loss of up to 900 jobs and £52million to Glasgow’s economy.

"As a group, we will ask Pladis to seriously examine counter proposals as we look to secure a long-term future for the factory and site."

GMB Scotland Organiser David Hume said: "There is a strong commitment on the part of everyone involved to defend these livelihoods and to save manufacturing in the East end of Glasgow, and we will need that clarity of purpose to fully engage Pladis and its MD David Murray in the weeks ahead.

"Nearly 50,000 people have now signed the workforce petition to stop the closure of the Tollcross plant, and determination is growing among workers and the local community that McVitie’s will not be another manufacturing casualty.

"It’s their factory, it’s their future, and everyone is fighting for it."

Pat McIlvogue, Unite Industrial Officer, said: "Unite welcomes the involvement from Kate Forbes, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Economy as a clear signal of the seriousness facing the workforce at McVitie's in Tollcross.

"There was unanimous agreement that all options must be on the table to ensure as many of the workers are kept in employment as possible including incentives, further investment and looking at a new site.

"However, what has to happen now as a matter of urgency is that the Scottish Government needs to directly engage with the power brokers at Pladis to convince them that there is viable alternatives to closure and Unite offers our full support in this effort.

"Pladis now has a duty of care to the workforce to explore these options with us."

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