Unite condemns Exide's plans to close its Bolton battery site
6th August 2009
The decision by Exide Technologies to close its Bolton battery
site with the loss of 400 jobs has been condemned today (Thursday)
by Unite, the UK's biggest union.
Unite says that the workers are angry and feel betrayed that
their business plan to retain production at the Over Hulton
(Bolton) site through the current recession has been rejected by
the company.
Condemning the closure and 400 job losses, John Rowse, Unite
national officer, said: "It seems ludicrous that a company
supplying a range of products powering electric vehicles should be
closing at a time when demand for this technology is growing. It is
true that lead/acid batteries are not leading edge but they still
have an important role to play powering a variety of off-road
electric vehicles and will continue to do so.
"This closure will see the end of heavy-duty battery cell
production in the UK. Already our submarine fleet is powered by
batteries imported into the UK when production ceased at Exide's
competitor's plant in Swinton, Manchester. Originally both
were part of the Chloride group. Now Exide is going the same
way!
"400 job losses will have a devastating economic effect on
families and the community during these difficult times. We will
continue to press the case for keeping the site open and urge Exide
to think again about its closure plans so that we can save these
jobs."
The union is currently in the process of balloting its members
at the site over the company's inadequate redundancy and closure
payments.
Ends
For further details please contact Karen Viquerat on 07768931316
or Pauline Doyle on 07976832861.
Email to a friend
