| Gary Langlands, president of Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce, said he believed the strategy — which has seen production temporarily cease and workers being asked to take time off on half pay — was a “punt” on behalf of management, but said it was more palatable than seeing mass redundancies.
“We recognise at the Chamber that there are a lot of businesses facing challenges just now. The creative way Michelin have put this proposition to their staff is actually quite commendable because it is not compulsory — the staff are basically being asked for their support in this.
“I would also say that the Michelin plant in Dundee, like with all multi-national companies, has to compete for its share of the total manufacturing work available at all times.
“The challenge the management faces is to keep the site as competitively priced as possible and this is another way in that creative sphere of doing that.
“It is quite a fine balance the management have to make to ensure there is still a good motivated workforce and ensure the factory is still as competitive as possible within the Michelin worldwide network.”
Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie said he believed the difficult choices being made by management right now would help protect the plant in the future.
“They are continuing to manage their output to meet falling demand. Management are doing everything they can to ensure the viability of the plant for the long term and I am pleased the scheme they have put in place — which management believe is necessary — is a voluntary scheme and is not breaching the minimum income guarantees,” he said.
“Michelin worldwide are taking very severe steps in this downturn — not least ending tyre production at their Turin factory. In Dundee, though, I am convinced the factory will be in the best possible place to weather the storm.”
Dundee West MP Jim McGovern said the most important thing was that no redundancies were being made at the Baldovie plant and the current scheme was being put forward on a voluntary basis.
“The closure of the operation in Turin rather than Dundee proves that the flexibility of the Dundee workforce has been a major factor in securing the future of the operation here,” he said.
“I am prepared to work with management and the unions to do whatever is necessary to secure the future of the plant.
“However, the management and unions seem to be quite comfortable this can be achieved in co-operation with the workforce.” |
