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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Schaeffler factory closure fears: 500 jobs at risk | Schaeffler factory closure fears: 500 jobs at risk |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| About 500 UK jobs are at risk after an automobile and industrial firm announced plans to close plants amid "uncertainty surrounding Brexit". | About 500 UK jobs are at risk after an automobile and industrial firm announced plans to close plants amid "uncertainty surrounding Brexit". |
| Schaeffler plants in Llanelli and Plymouth are earmarked for closure, with the firm proposing to relocate production to plants outside the UK. | Schaeffler plants in Llanelli and Plymouth are earmarked for closure, with the firm proposing to relocate production to plants outside the UK. |
| It has started a 45-day consultation on the plans. | It has started a 45-day consultation on the plans. |
| In Llanelli, 220 staff are employed in the factory and the Plymouth plant has 350 employees. | In Llanelli, 220 staff are employed in the factory and the Plymouth plant has 350 employees. |
| Llanelli MP Nia Griffith described her "huge shock". | Llanelli MP Nia Griffith described her "huge shock". |
| 'Knock-on effect' | 'Knock-on effect' |
| "The company has been an important employer in the area for many years," she said. | "The company has been an important employer in the area for many years," she said. |
| "I am worried obviously about the affect on families in the area... and the possible knock-on effect on other local businesses. | "I am worried obviously about the affect on families in the area... and the possible knock-on effect on other local businesses. |
| "It is important to try to offer the company any help to try to persuade them to change their minds." | "It is important to try to offer the company any help to try to persuade them to change their minds." |
| She said the local assembly member Lee Waters had already been talking to the Welsh economy secretary Ken Skates AM to see what was possible. | She said the local assembly member Lee Waters had already been talking to the Welsh economy secretary Ken Skates AM to see what was possible. |
| "A meeting with the company is important as the next step. This again emphasises the need for a clear Brexit plan to give companies and employers security and to end uncertainty," she added. | "A meeting with the company is important as the next step. This again emphasises the need for a clear Brexit plan to give companies and employers security and to end uncertainty," she added. |
| 'Short-sighted' | |
| Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton, said the closure was "deeply worrying" and shows the "uncertainty of the hard Brexit". | |
| "We need to be in a customs union, close to the single market or we will lose even more jobs," he added. | |
| The site in Plymouth had been producing "some of its greatest output for years", according to Johnny Mercer. | |
| The MP for Plymouth Moor View said the closure was a "short-sighted mistake" by Schaeffler. | |
| Councillor Deryk Cundy who represents Bynea in Llanelli said the loss of "well-paid" jobs would be a massive blow. | Councillor Deryk Cundy who represents Bynea in Llanelli said the loss of "well-paid" jobs would be a massive blow. |
| "It will also affect Carmarthenshire and wider. We will need to form a taskforce. [We need] to persuade Schaeffler to rethink their decision," he said. | "It will also affect Carmarthenshire and wider. We will need to form a taskforce. [We need] to persuade Schaeffler to rethink their decision," he said. |
| Greig Littlefair, managing director of Schaeffler UK, said the firm wanted "transparent and fair discussions with the employees affected". | Greig Littlefair, managing director of Schaeffler UK, said the firm wanted "transparent and fair discussions with the employees affected". |
| Schaeffler, which employs more than 1,000 people at five facilities in the UK, will not be closing its largest plant in Sheffield. | |
| It is anticipated the UK reorganisation will take up to two years to implement. | It is anticipated the UK reorganisation will take up to two years to implement. |
| Juergen Ziegler, regional CEO Europe at Schaeffler, said: "Brexit is clearly not the single decisive factor behind our decision-making for the UK market, but the need to plan for various complex scenarios has brought forward the timing. | Juergen Ziegler, regional CEO Europe at Schaeffler, said: "Brexit is clearly not the single decisive factor behind our decision-making for the UK market, but the need to plan for various complex scenarios has brought forward the timing. |
| "However, we remain committed to keeping certain activities in the UK, a country that will continue to be important to us." | "However, we remain committed to keeping certain activities in the UK, a country that will continue to be important to us." |
| The closures are part of the firm's "Agenda 4 plus One" reorganisation plan examining strategic and economic competitiveness and the long-term sustainability of facilities. | The closures are part of the firm's "Agenda 4 plus One" reorganisation plan examining strategic and economic competitiveness and the long-term sustainability of facilities. |