Tyre factory job losses blamed on ‘cheap Chinese imports’

COMMUNITY leaders have responded to  confirmation that 300 jobs are to go at Cooper Tire in Melksham. It was announced in October that job losses were likely and this news was confirmed earlier this month.

Cooper Tire said it was “not economically feasible to modernise or expand the Melksham site for light vehicle tyre production.” 

It is expected that production will be phased out over a period of approximately 10 months.  Approximately 300 roles, primarily manufacturing and support positions related to light vehicle tyre production, will become redundant at the site. 

Tony Hulbert, regional officer for Unite, Britain’s largest union said,  “We are blaming the continued dumping of cheap inferior tyres from countries, such as China, for the jobs losses at Melksham.

“Unite has campaigned against this phenomenon and has repeatedly urged the government to create a level playing field for tyre manufacturers in the UK.

“These inferior tyre imports are not only bad for road safety, but bad for UK jobs and manufacturing – as has been proved by this announcement.

“What also sticks in the gullet is that Cooper Tires constructed a purpose-built factory in Serbia, where labour costs are much cheaper than the UK, which is now going to take on the work from Melksham.

“What adds insult to injury is that our members went over to Serbia to train the workers there in production techniques – and now they have lost their jobs to them.

“We have spent recent months in talks with management to mitigate these job losses which total 312. We have been told that there will be no redundancies until June this year.

“The announcement, which was heralded in October, is still a cruel blow for the workforce and their families and will have a very big adverse impact on the Wiltshire economy.

“We will give our members maximum support in the days and weeks ahead, and work constructively with the management to secure a viable future for the remaining workforce at Melksham.”

MP Michelle Donelan  said, “My first priority now is to make sure that as the redundancy process moves forward, all those affected receive fair and equal treatment by Cooper Tyres.

“The next priority has to be to find alternative work for those affected as soon as possible. A taskforce involving Wiltshire Council and the Department of Work and Pensions has been working for the past few months and numerous local companies have already been in touch stating that they are doing a recruitment drive. I call on all employers locally that think they may be able to utilise the skills of those that are being made redundant to come forward so that local people can once again get the job security that they need. 

“It is also vital that we avoid any further job losses around the area and indeed across Wiltshire. That is why I have held talks with ministers to discuss what the government can do to help make the UK more competitive when facing the challenges of cheaper labour abroad. I want to make sure that Wiltshire remains competitive, while also maintaining our commitment to strengthening the National Living Wage, so I will continue to see what the government can do to attract even more investment into jobs in the UK – especially in Wiltshire.

 “My heart goes out to all those affected by this but I know that this is not enough on its own. I have been and will be taking tangible action to see that we make the very best of what is a very difficult situation and get those affected back in work as soon as possible.

Cllr Adrienne Westbrook,  mayor of Melksham said, “Melksham Town Council told Cooper Tire and the union back in October that the facilities of the Town Hall and the Assembly Hall could be used to offer places to support workers including careers advice, counselling or job fares. 

“To my knowledge the company and/or union have not taken us up on this offer, but the offer is still there, and hopefully they take advantage of it to help support the 300 job redundancies that they have announced.”