News

17 February 2009

Tony Burke, Unite Assistant General Secretary, said: “This is a very bitter blow to the Scottish economy and to manufacturing in the UK. Unite members at the plant have done everything they can save the site and Unite has worked behind the scenes to try to find potential purchasers.

“However, it appears that International Paper failed to reach an agreement with any of the potential purchasers. We believe it was their policy all along to close the site and replace lost production in Scotland with paper produced in Brazil, Poland or Russia.

“Our top priority now is to help our members find alternative employment, which is going to be difficult.

“We will also be fighting to secure the best severance pay possible. International Paper is one of the biggest paper making companies in the world and can afford to pay decent severance terms given the loyalty and dedication of our members and the fact that many workers will find it hard to get similarly skilled jobs in the area.”

-ENDS-

For further information please contact Tony Burke on 07831 659939 or Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite press office on 020 7420 8914 or 07980 224761.

http://www.unitetheunion.com/sectors/graphical_paper__media/latest_news/unite_condemn_closure_of_inter.aspx