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| Meeting for redundant Bosch staff | Meeting for redundant Bosch staff |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of workers facing redundancy at the south Wales Bosch factory have held a mass meeting to discuss their future. | |
| The German motor parts manufacturer is recommending to its board closing its Vale of Glamorgan site, transferring work to Hungary in 2011. | The German motor parts manufacturer is recommending to its board closing its Vale of Glamorgan site, transferring work to Hungary in 2011. |
| The company says sales have dropped dramatically. | The company says sales have dropped dramatically. |
| The Unite union says the decision is a "devastating" blow for the 900-strong workforce at the plant near Miskin. | The Unite union says the decision is a "devastating" blow for the 900-strong workforce at the plant near Miskin. |
| "Since October last year, Unite has been seeking alternatives to the closure of the site, but the company has not supported our proposals," said the union's regional officer, David Lewis. | "Since October last year, Unite has been seeking alternatives to the closure of the site, but the company has not supported our proposals," said the union's regional officer, David Lewis. |
| "This is a terrible blow to 900 workers and their families. Unite will now vigorously campaign for the best possible deal for the workforce." | "This is a terrible blow to 900 workers and their families. Unite will now vigorously campaign for the best possible deal for the workforce." |
| Bosch announced in the autumn that it was holding 90 days of consultation on the future of the plant, either to cut 300 posts or to close the site completely. | Bosch announced in the autumn that it was holding 90 days of consultation on the future of the plant, either to cut 300 posts or to close the site completely. |
| On Thursday, the management confirmed that it was recommending the closure of the factory, phasing out production and all jobs by the summer of 2011. | On Thursday, the management confirmed that it was recommending the closure of the factory, phasing out production and all jobs by the summer of 2011. |
| It said it was facing the worst economic downturn for decades, saying that this had "left its mark on the Bosch Group". | It said it was facing the worst economic downturn for decades, saying that this had "left its mark on the Bosch Group". |
| Support pledged | Support pledged |
| Stefan Asenkerschbaumer, president of the Bosch starter motors division, described the decision as "one of the toughest" of his career. | Stefan Asenkerschbaumer, president of the Bosch starter motors division, described the decision as "one of the toughest" of his career. |
| "I know first-hand the dedication and commitment of the employees here," he said. | "I know first-hand the dedication and commitment of the employees here," he said. |
| The factory opened in Miskin in 1991 to make alternator products for cars, with the help of £21m in public grants from the Welsh Development Agency, which was subsequently absorbed into the Welsh Assembly Government. | The factory opened in Miskin in 1991 to make alternator products for cars, with the help of £21m in public grants from the Welsh Development Agency, which was subsequently absorbed into the Welsh Assembly Government. |
| Bosch is situated in the M4 corridor in south Wales | Bosch is situated in the M4 corridor in south Wales |
| At its peak it employed some 1,500 people. | At its peak it employed some 1,500 people. |
| However, in 2008 it laid off 600 contracted and agency staff. | However, in 2008 it laid off 600 contracted and agency staff. |
| Ahead of Saturday's mass meeting in Miskin, the assembly government pledged its full support to the workforce. | |
| Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones described it as "extremely disappointing news". | Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones described it as "extremely disappointing news". |
| "If this decision goes through, we will continue to do everything possible to help those affected, whether it is helping them find new jobs or gain new skills so they can start alternative careers," he added. | "If this decision goes through, we will continue to do everything possible to help those affected, whether it is helping them find new jobs or gain new skills so they can start alternative careers," he added. |