Dundee is on the “brink of an employment disaster” as 117 job losses loom because of flawed business logic, says a union.
Flint Group is blaming the “irreversible decline” of print media for the possible closure of its Dundee plant, which it said made an operating loss of more than £1 million last year.
But the GMB Union says the site was profit-making as recently as last year and can be saved.
Jenny Marra, the Dundee-based MSP, has called on Nicola Sturgeon to release officials to help the union draw up a business case to prevent job losses.
Drew Duffy, from GMB Scotland, said Tuesday’s announcement was a “total shock” given they were told a month ago that Dundee was on course to make a pre-tax profit of more than £800,000.
He said the site is being closed for two reasons the cost of materials and high energy bills. Mr Duffy said they have a plan to drive energy costs down.
“One hundred and seventeen members of staff work on the site and Dundee is on the brink of an employment disaster,” he added.
“There are not 117 jobs available elsewhere and we found out this week Dundee City Council will need to cut 750 jobs. Enough is enough. Dundee cannot take much more of this.”
The union is now hoping to get Scottish Government support in keeping the site open.
In a letter to the First Minister, Ms Marra asked if she will “instruct officials from Scottish Enterprise to meet with Drew Duffy of the GMB early next week to assist them with the business case”.
David Wood, Flint Group operations manager at Dundee, said: “We will, of course, consider as part of the consultation process any realistic proposal for the future of the Dundee facility and we expect to have an open dialogue with our people and their representatives during the minimum 45-day consultation period.
“This period has not yet started as staff representatives need to be elected first. Once this process has been carried out and the consultation begins we will share information on the global market place and financial figures for the Dundee facility, to build on the initial information seen by the GMB representatives to date.”