More than 200 jobs are at risk in Lanarkshire after two manufacturing firms announced plans to close their Scottish operations. Resideo and Honeywell Control Systems, both based at Newhouse Industrial Estate near Motherwell, said they would move production to England and the EU.
Closure Plans Announced
Last week, Resideo confirmed to employees that production currently based in Lanarkshire would move to Brno, Czech Republic, and Nagykanizsa, Hungary, citing higher operational costs at their Scottish operations. Some 116 jobs at the firm, which manufactures products to support lower-carbon technology such as thermostats, plumbing components for boilers and heat pumps, and heating controls, are now at risk.
On Tuesday, October 20, Honeywell announced its own plans to move production to Poole in England. Around 91 jobs at the firm, which specialises in electronic hardware and systems and has a number of contracts with the MoD, are also at risk.
Union Response
Unite the Union has condemned the separate decisions by both firms. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Scotland can't continue to haemorrhage manufacturing jobs. It’s simply unsustainable."
"The decision by both Resideo and Honeywell to close the joint site, and to transfer the work out of Scotland is unforgivable. Government needs to intervene and ministers must protect jobs and communities. They need to act now."
Unite industrial officer Sam Ritchie added: "It’s vital that everything possible is done to retain these jobs. The Resideo and Honeywell workers are critical to the emerging green economy. They make high value products including the well-known Honeywell home thermostats."
"Government must get its act together and work to keep this joint site open because it’s central to delivering the just-transition agenda. Unite will fight tooth and nail to prevent these closures and we will be stepping up our actions to achieve this while supporting our members every step of the way."
Calls for Government Intervention
Unite is calling on the UK and Scottish Governments to step in and save as many jobs as possible. The union added that the potential loss of the combined manufacturing capacity could be significant in the context of Scotland's just-transition ambitions, as the products made are closely connected to heating efficiency, climate control, and heat-pump technology.
Both Resideo and Honeywell were approached by the Daily Record for comment. The UK Government and the Scottish Government were also contacted for comment.
