This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8238656.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Bausch & Lomb set to axe 500 jobs | Bausch & Lomb set to axe 500 jobs |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| About 500 jobs are set to be lost after contact lenses manufacturer Bausch & Lomb announced plans to move production from West Lothian. | About 500 jobs are set to be lost after contact lenses manufacturer Bausch & Lomb announced plans to move production from West Lothian. |
| The American company has entered a 90-day consultation period with staff at its factory in Livingston. | |
| The company plans to move the work to existing sites in Ireland and the US. | The company plans to move the work to existing sites in Ireland and the US. |
| Bausch & Lomb, which has been in Livingston since 1996, announced a phased withdrawal from the site over the next year and early 2011. | Bausch & Lomb, which has been in Livingston since 1996, announced a phased withdrawal from the site over the next year and early 2011. |
| Gerald Ostrov, chairman and chief executive officer of Bausch & Lomb, was at the plant when local management informed employees of the news. | Gerald Ostrov, chairman and chief executive officer of Bausch & Lomb, was at the plant when local management informed employees of the news. |
| Strategic review | Strategic review |
| He said: "We are constantly considering a number of options to provide the necessary cash funding to enable our global growth plans. | He said: "We are constantly considering a number of options to provide the necessary cash funding to enable our global growth plans. |
| "As such, and after an extensive strategic review, we believe that focusing our resources on just two primary contact lens manufacturing plants is critical. | "As such, and after an extensive strategic review, we believe that focusing our resources on just two primary contact lens manufacturing plants is critical. |
| "The long-term cost savings - hundreds of millions of pounds - will provide crucial funding as part of a broader global effort to reinvest in our business, including increasing professional and consumer contact lens demand worldwide." | "The long-term cost savings - hundreds of millions of pounds - will provide crucial funding as part of a broader global effort to reinvest in our business, including increasing professional and consumer contact lens demand worldwide." |
| The company said it had chosen the sites at Waterford in Ireland and Rochester in New York state after a review. | The company said it had chosen the sites at Waterford in Ireland and Rochester in New York state after a review. |
| Factors in the choice included "proximity to established research and development resources, substantial total cost savings, global operational efficiencies, and future investment potential", the company said. | Factors in the choice included "proximity to established research and development resources, substantial total cost savings, global operational efficiencies, and future investment potential", the company said. |
| Mr Ostrov said the decision was "not a reflection of how our people in Livingston have performed, their professionalism, or their dedication". | Mr Ostrov said the decision was "not a reflection of how our people in Livingston have performed, their professionalism, or their dedication". |
| Bausch & Lomb bought Livingston-based contact lens manufacturer Award in 1996, which employed about 100 people at the time. | Bausch & Lomb bought Livingston-based contact lens manufacturer Award in 1996, which employed about 100 people at the time. |
| The Livingston site manufactures SofLens daily disposable contact lenses for global sale. | The Livingston site manufactures SofLens daily disposable contact lenses for global sale. |
| Mr Ostrov said the decision was not a reflection on the workers | |
| Bausch & Lomb employs more than 10,000 people worldwide. | Bausch & Lomb employs more than 10,000 people worldwide. |
| Finance Secretary John Swinney said he was "very disappointed" that Bausch & Lomb were moving production abroad. | Finance Secretary John Swinney said he was "very disappointed" that Bausch & Lomb were moving production abroad. |
| He said: "The Scottish Government has been in contact with the company at senior level, including with chair and chief executive Gerald Ostrov. | He said: "The Scottish Government has been in contact with the company at senior level, including with chair and chief executive Gerald Ostrov. |
| "A phased withdrawal from Livingston over the next 21 months allows us to continue discussions with the company." | "A phased withdrawal from Livingston over the next 21 months allows us to continue discussions with the company." |
| Scottish Labour's economy & skills spokesman John Park called on the Scottish Government to do everything in its power to persuade Bausch & Lomb not to close its plant. | Scottish Labour's economy & skills spokesman John Park called on the Scottish Government to do everything in its power to persuade Bausch & Lomb not to close its plant. |
| Devastating blow | Devastating blow |
| He said: "This would be another body blow to the Scottish economy and ministers must do everything possible to try to save these jobs. | He said: "This would be another body blow to the Scottish economy and ministers must do everything possible to try to save these jobs. |
| "I urge the company to show loyalty to its workforce and explore all other options before going ahead with such a drastic step." | "I urge the company to show loyalty to its workforce and explore all other options before going ahead with such a drastic step." |
| SNP MSP for Livingston, Angela Constance, said she was "deeply saddened and shocked" by the announcement. | SNP MSP for Livingston, Angela Constance, said she was "deeply saddened and shocked" by the announcement. |
| She said: "Unemployment in West Lothian is the highest in a decade. This is a devastating blow for the local economy and the 500 strong workforce who are highly committed, skilled and productive." | She said: "Unemployment in West Lothian is the highest in a decade. This is a devastating blow for the local economy and the 500 strong workforce who are highly committed, skilled and productive." |
| Ms Constance said she wanted to make sure that everything possible was done for the workforce. | Ms Constance said she wanted to make sure that everything possible was done for the workforce. |
| "As closure is not imminent I want to ensure that all options other than closure have been fully explored and to establish what opportunities exist to mitigate this colossal job loss," she said. | "As closure is not imminent I want to ensure that all options other than closure have been fully explored and to establish what opportunities exist to mitigate this colossal job loss," she said. |