By Steven Bell, Graham Huband and Laurie Watson

NCR EMPLOYEES will hear today if the feared mass cull of jobs at the firm’s Dundee plant is to become a reality.

The 800-strong workforce have been summoned to a meeting at the Wester Gourdie factory at noon and are bracing themselves for “the worst”—the possible closure of the facility.

An announcement of mass redundancies at NCR would cap a terrible period for Dundee’s economy that has seen redundancies at Tesco and Michelin in recent months and an announcement by Wood Group yesterday of 50 job losses (see report on Page 6).

Speculation about NCR’s future in Dundee has been rife and a local Amicus representative said it was possible the entire operation could close—a move that would send shockwaves throughout the city.

NCR maintained its wall of silence on the meeting yesterday and has repeatedly refused to discuss the prospect of manufacturing work from Dundee being transferred to its new plant in Hungary.

NCR also operates a modern research and development centre at Wester Gourdie—the Discovery Centre. It is thought it may escape the axe.

Amicus representative Gillian McKay said, “The only thing I can really say at the moment is that the company won’t share with us the reason for the meeting.

“Our members fear the worst. If they do confirm the closure, the effect on the workforce of 800 and the economy will be devastating.”

The union representative said they were given assurances by senior management in the past that the Hungary operation would have “little or no impact” on Dundee.

However, she continued, “We have been told that after the meeting the staff will be able to go home until Monday, and that is a red flag for me.

“If you give people good news you don’t then send them home.

“If it is bad news, they will have reneged on all the promises that were made to us.”

The union has been told announcements will be made at NCR plants around the world in what is being seen as a “global reconstruction.”

US-based NCR confirmed that a meeting has been called for noon today.

A spokesman said around 800 employees would be gathering, but added, “We would not discuss the purpose of that meeting.”

Day shift staff were in as usual yesterday, but the night shift was told to stay at home until the meeting.

Employees said they were disappointed at the way the issue was being handled, after months of speculation about cuts or work going to Hungary.

One said, “We’re just sitting around waiting for news.”

The staff member added, “They are not telling us anything, but all the talk is about job cuts.

“People are angry and disappointed, because we are all wanting to know what’s happening.”

Another employee said he expected the meeting to mean “mega” job cuts—and suggested things could turn angry.

“Work is going to the factory in Hungary,” he said. “We were told in Dundee a year ago not to worry about the Hungary plant, that it was to support Dundee, but it appears that was a lie.

“There are people in at the moment setting up for the meeting, and it is going to be sent by television link to NCR factories throughout the world.

“People in Dundee, some of them with 15 or 20 years’ service, are all devastated.

“I never thought I would feel as bad as I do about this.”

Dundee West MP Jim McGovern and his Dundee East counterpart Stewart Hosie said yesterday they were invited to a meeting with local management after the mass meeting.

Mr McGovern said the company was “not prepared to tell me anything” before the meeting.

“The only way to dispel the current speculation is with a definitive statement, and it looks like that is coming now,” he said.

“All I can say is that I am hopeful there is a future for NCR in Dundee.

“NCR is so important to the Dundee economy. The knock-on effect for Dundee is inestimable.”

Sources from within NCR claimed last night the firm’s head of human resources and a high-ranking executive were in Dundee from their Ohio headquarters.

It is understood they checked into a city hotel.

The hotel manager refused to comment on the identity of individual guests last night.