Push to Spark Jobs for Electrolux Staff

By Neil McKay

WORK began yesterday on trying to find jobs for 500 factory workers affected by last Friday’s announcement that Electrolux is to close its plant in Spennymoor, County Durham.

Experts from bodies across the region set up a group to establish a plan for finding alternative work, training and self-employment opportunities for the people employed at the plant on the town’s Merrington Lane Industrial Estate which will close at the end of 2008.

The response group is made up of representatives of Durham County Council, One NorthEast, Sedgefield Borough Council, JobCentre Plus, Business Link North-East, Learning & Skills Council, North-East Chamber of Commerce, Engineering Employers Federation and Right Management as well as the factory’s general manager Dave Watroba.

It is chaired by Stewart Watkins, managing director of Durham County Council’s business development arm the County Durham Development Company (CDDC).

Mr Watkins said: "As a group, we wanted to meet as early as possible after Friday’s announcement to lay the foundations for finding new employment opportunities for as many employees as we can and we will be working closely with the company’s outplacement advisers.

"We are confident the Electrolux staff have a range of skills that will be extremely desirable to companies in the region with skills shortages and job vacancies and we will be working hard to marry up the two.

"We mustn’t lose sight of the fact that Electrolux has given a long lead time to closure and so this is not a scramble to find work. We have time to plan this properly and to work closely with individual employees and the union to find them the best possible outcome from this situation."

Ian Williams, One NorthEast Director of Business and Industry, said: "The response group will offer a package of support to each and every worker, identifying employment opportunities, looking at re-training options and supporting those workers who wish to start up their own business."

The worst fears of workers were confirmed on Friday when they were told their factory was to close. The plant, which has been in the town for 50 years, makes cookers. Production will shift to Swidnica in Poland.

Jeff Moreland, from the trade union Unite, described the decision as "another shameless example of British workers being dumped in favour of low-wage exploitation in Poland."

He added: "The company’s decision to move production to Poland, where workers are paid a quarter of a British wage, will not be profitable in the short run."

But locals suspect the large site near Spennymoor town centre could eventually prove to be an attractive proposition for housing developers.

(c) 2007 The Journal – Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.