A global firm’s only Scottish plant will close at the end of May with the loss of around 75 jobs – after a last-ditch bid to save the site ended in failure.
Unite is now calling on the Scottish Government to step in and save the roles at Argent Energy in Newarthill after bosses decided to close the doors following a lengthy consultation process.
Employees are currently engaged in one-to-one interviews but we can reveal they have now been told that the plant will be powering down for the final time on May 31.
The entire workforce is set to be made redundant.
Politicians had been working with staff and union bosses to try and form a rescue plan and convince bosses to keep the site operational. Despite believing they had put forward a credible proposal, Argent chiefs have decided to forge ahead with plans to wield the axe.
One worker described the closure of the factory, which has the capacity to produce up to 50 million litres of biodiesel a year, as a ‘massive blow’ – and one that will leave people struggling on the breadline.
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He said: “Everyone is absolutely devastated and the community is going to struggle to absorb the impact of the closure as a lot of businesses in the area rely on work from Argent to survive. It means people will be pushed into poverty and unemployment, it’s a disgraceful way to treat what has been a loyal and committed workforce.
“We put forward a solid plan to save this profitable plant, but bosses just forged ahead without any regard to what it will do to people’s lives."
The company supplies biodiesel to Stagecoach England, Metroline buses in London and trucking giant Eddie Stobart, along with oil and gas companies such as Shell and BP.
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Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the government needs to now step up.
She added: “Argent Energy workers based at Newarthill are exactly the type of workforce supposed to be spearheading the country's march to greener jobs. The Scottish Government needs to step in now or else its wider strategy will be in ruins. Meanwhile, Unite will do all we possibly can to explore every option to keep the plant open.”
Motherwell and Wishaw SNP MP Marion Fellows, along with area MSP Stephanie Callaghan, have penned a joint letter to Argent Energy bosses calling for an urgent rethink after previously meeting representatives from the firm earlier this month to try and force a U-turn.
The letter, which has been seen by the Glasgow Times, says: “We both remain clear that our priority is protecting local jobs for people working at within our Lanarkshire constituencies.
“During our earlier meeting, we highlighted the importance of supporting employee wellbeing as a key issue, in response to the communications we have received from Argent employees. Despite the firm confirming that the health of their skilled and loyal workforce would be prioritised, this remains a key area of concern and worry for those contacting us.
“Further issues raised on behalf of employees include concerns around fairness, openness and transparency regarding Agent’s exploration of available options, decision-making processes and related information and data.”
The letter continues: “Employees continue to tell us the information shared with them to date conflicts with data they already hold on the Newarthill, Stanlow and Amsterdam plants. They note that Argent’s approach has unfairly favoured other plants over Newarthill. According to workers, only the Scottish plant has been considered for closure, despite high employee engagement and favourable productivity and profitability when compared with other sites.”
The Glasgow Times broke the news of the devastating plan last month, with bosses at the biodiesel producer blaming the impact of Brexit on UK and EU markets.
The firm also says that unprecedented competition from imported Chinese companies, which benefit from state economic support and subsidies, has badly hampered its ambitions.
Argent, which uses waste fats and oils to decarbonise transport, says that it has faced "severe economic pressures" since 2022.
Workers claim the Ellesmere Port site is losing cash each month and is running at over-production targets, while Motherwell was on the cusp of returning to profit.
A spokesperson for the firm said today: “I can confirm that Argent is still in the consultation period and we are currently conducting one-to-one interviews. The standard consultation period we are employing is due to be completed on May 24.
“The proposal, subject to the consultation, is for Argent to stop the plant and for redundancies to be effective from May 31.”
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