UK chemical workers protest in Barcelona against 'callous' sackings
by Artenius
6th August 2009
Photo-opportunity
- 12.30pm, Friday, August 7th
- Transport House, Fry Street, Middlesbrough
Angry Unite members employed by chemical firm Artenius at the
Wilton site on Teesside will confront shareholders at a board
meeting in Barcelona, Spain, this Saturday (8th August) about the
callous way they were told their jobs were going and that they
would receive only the state basic in redundancy pay.
As they set off for Barcelona, the workers will be available for
media interview at 12.30pm, Friday, August 7th. Interested
media should contact Bob Bolam on 07768 693 948 or come to
Unite's Middlesbrough office, Transport House, Fry Street,
Middlesbrough, TS1 1HA.
Artenius is now in administration meaning a further 220 UK
chemical jobs are to go. Unite has warned previously that the
Artenius job losses could be the first in a runaway reaction across
the UK chemical sector prompted by the closure of the Wilton
site.
Phil McNulty, Unite national officer said: "They are furious at
the way the parent company, La Seda de Barcelona, has sucked money
from the site and then placed the UK plant in administration.
"Our members were given three hours notice, sacked with state
minimum redundancy pay and with not a word of consultation even
though the company had consistently denied that this was about to
happen.
"This is another serious blow to the Wilton complex adding to
the growing redundancies, placing further doubt on its future."
Phil McNulty added that he had heard nothing from the government
since meeting with them over a week ago. He said: "I am
extremely concerned to ensure that the serious of the situation is
appreciated by the UK government. The Wilton situation is now
critical, and I have written to Lord Mandelson's team again."
Unite has stressed to the government the importance of securing
the Wilton plant, the only UK plant still making ethylene oxide
(EO) and as such pivotal to the continuation of the UK chemical
industry. However, the site is facing run down as operators on the
site close.
EO is a strategic raw material used by the chemical sector and
is central to the production of everyday goods from antifreeze to
soaps, paints and make up. The EO compound is hazardous to
transport and its movement is regulated, which means that
businesses purchasing the material cluster near the source plant.
The impending closure of the Wilton plant has put those businesses
dependent on EO from the Wilton plant at serious risk of closure
too.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Bob Bolam on
07768 693 948 (who will be with the workers) or Pauline Doyle on
07976 832 861
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