UK Chemical Workers Protest in Barcelona Against `Callous’ Sackings by Artenius

LONDON -

- Photo-opportunity

- 12.30pm, Friday, August 7th

- Transport House, Fry Street, Middlesbrough

Angry Unite members employed by chemical firm Artenius at the Wilton site on Teesside will confront shareholders at a board meeting in Barcelona, Spain, this Saturday (8th August) about the callous way they were told their jobs were going and that they would receive only the state basic in redundancy pay.

As they set off for Barcelona, the workers will be available for media interview at 12.30pm, Friday, August 7th. Interested media should contact Bob Bolam on +44(0)7768-693-948 or come to Unite’s Middlesbrough office, Transport House, Fry Street, Middlesbrough, TS1 1HA.

Artenius is now in administration meaning a further 220 UK chemical jobs are to go. Unite has warned previously that the Artenius job losses could be the first in a runaway reaction across the UK chemical sector prompted by the closure of the Wilton site.

Phil McNulty, Unite national officer said: “They are furious at the way the parent company, La Seda de Barcelona, has sucked money from the site and then placed the UK plant in administration.

“Our members were given three hours notice, sacked with state minimum redundancy pay and with not a word of consultation even though the company had consistently denied that this was about to happen.

“This is another serious blow to the Wilton complex adding to the growing redundancies, placing further doubt on its future.”

Phil McNulty added that he had heard nothing from the government since meeting with them over a week ago. He said: “I am extremely concerned to ensure that the serious of the situation is appreciated by the UK government. The Wilton situation is now critical, and I have written to Lord Mandelson’s team again.”

Unite has stressed to the government the importance of securing the Wilton plant, the only UK plant still making ethylene oxide (EO) and as such pivotal to the continuation of the UK chemical industry. However, the site is facing run down as operators on the site close.

EO is a strategic raw material used by the chemical sector and is central to the production of everyday goods from antifreeze to soaps, paints and make up. The EO compound is hazardous to transport and its movement is regulated, which means that businesses purchasing the material cluster near the source plant. The impending closure of the Wilton plant has put those businesses dependent on EO from the Wilton plant at serious risk of closure too.

Source: Unite the Union

For further information, please contact Bob Bolam on +44(0)7768-693-948 (who will be with the workers) or Pauline Doyle on +44(0)7976-832-861