100 jobs axed as firm '˜shifts business to eastern Europe'

Workers finished their last shift at a Leeds automative parts company today, as a union claimed the business has been relocated to eastern Europe.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Apr 2016, 13:41 BST
Updated 4th May 2016, 15:08 BST
Several areas of West Yorkshire were badly hit by flooding in December. A court has been told that criminals' cars worth £1m were damaged by floods at a police compound.Several areas of West Yorkshire were badly hit by flooding in December. A court has been told that criminals' cars worth £1m were damaged by floods at a police compound.
Several areas of West Yorkshire were badly hit by flooding in December. A court has been told that criminals' cars worth £1m were damaged by floods at a police compound.

Unite said German-owned ThyssenKrupp Woodhead Leeds had used the flooding on Boxing Day as “a very poor excuse” to move the 93 jobs to eastern Europe.

Unite regional officer Richard Bedford said it was “another nail in the manufacturing heritage of the UK.”

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He added: “We regard the actions of the company as a betrayal for this dedicated workforce that worked 101 per cent to clear up after the flooding over Christmas.

“The factory has been on that site for 160 years, making about £2 million a year in profit and had prestige customers such as Aston Martin, GM, JLR and Nissan.

“This was a solid profitable company that could have been relocated within Leeds – but the owners have used the flooding as a very poor and flimsy excuse to move, we believe, the work to eastern Europe.”

Unite has also blamed ministers for the scaling back of flood defence spending in Leeds in 2011 for sabotaging the plan for the Northern Powerhouse.

No one was available to comment at ThyssenKrupp Woodhead Leeds.

Related topics:EuropeLeedsWorkersUnite