 Inverurie Paper Mill employs 371 staff at the plant |
An Aberdeenshire paper mill employing almost 400 workers is facing closure, it has been announced. International Paper said its Inverurie plant was "unprofitable and not financially viable". The company has now started a three-month consultation with its 371 staff at the mill and admitted closure was an option. Inverurie Paper Mill director Chris Melia said all would be done to "ensure the best possible outcome". Mr Melia said: "Despite significant investments and our extremely skilled and committed workforce, the mill is unprofitable and is not financially viable. "Our task is now to review all possible scenarios for the future of the mill, while staying focused on customer needs."  |  We will be doing our level best to protect jobs and livelihoods in the town |
First Minister Alex Salmond, the Gordon MSP, said: "This is extremely serious news for the workforce at the plant and for the wider community in Inverurie. It is a great blow that its future should be in jeopardy. "I have spoken to both management and trade union representatives and both have asked me to stress that the present position is that a consultation period is beginning soon about future options for the plant, and that regardless of the outcome the intention of the mill will be to continue operating until well into next year. "This does give us valuable time to help explore all potential options for the plant and the workforce. To that end I will be meeting management and unions in Inverurie on Thursday morning." 'Body-blow' He added: "We will be doing our level best to protect jobs and livelihoods in the town, particularly as many of the employees have a longstanding commitment to the plant." Lib Dem MP Malcolm Bruce told BBC Scotland: "It's obviously a body-blow for Inverurie. "It will be a shock to everyone in the region. The timing could not be worse as the economy moves into recession." The MP for Gordon said: "We face the prospect of losing almost 400 good jobs with the consequential loss of spending in the local economy. If the mill closes it will end more than 200 years of history in the town. "I am aware that the management are looking at a whole variety of options to secure the future of the mill and they have my support in that. Clearly the survival of the mill would require large-scale investment which may be hard to find. "I will be seeking meetings with management and workforce to discuss the prospects." Nanette Milne, Scottish Conservative MSP for North-East Scotland, said: "This is a very, very serious situation and my thoughts are with those workers who are facing a very uncertain future. I can only hope that any action which proves inevitable will not impact too harshly on the hundreds of jobs at stake." Aberdeenshire Council chief executive Alan Campbell said: "The closure of the Inverurie Paper Mill would have a significant effect on the local economy. "Aberdeenshire Council is extremely concerned at today's news. "With such a significant number of jobs at risk, we will be looking to work with our partner organisations to discuss how we can offer help and support to the company, as well as individuals." International Paper acquired the mill in 1996.
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