Protesters marched through Cambuslang

Hundreds of people marched through the town and demonstrated outside the factory to protest at the transfer of jobs from Scotland to Wales and China.

Engineering union Amicus is arguing that the company should be investing in research and development and skills training in Cambuslang rather than Merthyr Tydfil in Wales.

The union is also lobbying actively at Westminster for a change in employment law which would make it harder to make workers redundant in the UK.

Union research has shown that in Europe, where redundancy laws are tougher, companies find it more cost effective to improve productivity by increasing investment instead of pay for widespread redundancies.

About 250 workers and their families gathered outside the Hoover factory for the rally on Saturday morning.

Motivated workforce

Danny Carrigan, Amicus assistant general secretary, was among the speakers.

He said: "Hoover is merely the most powerful symbol to date of industry failing to invest in the workforce, skills and in technology.

"No-one is seriously suggesting that Cambuslang workers should compete against a low wage economy like China but there is every reason for us to compete with Wales as the most innovative and highly motivated workforce in the UK."