Eighty jobs at risk as Glasgow coffin factory faces closure

About 80 workers at the UK's only coffin manufacturing factory in Glasgow are facing redundancy after the owners announced plans to close it and relocate to a site in England.

Co-Op Funeralcare intend to move all production to a new factory in Merseyside, with all the workers at the company's Shieldhall site affected.

The union Unite called the decision disgraceful and said other options should be considered, including building a new factory in Glasgow.

The company said the Merseyside site would be more centrally positioned and new up-to-date equipment would help it operate "more efficiently as a business".

Co-op Funeralcare is one of the UK's biggest funeral directors businesses.

In recent years workers at the Bogmoor Place site have taken strike action in a row over pay, with the dispute lasting for months.

If the plans go ahead the closure is expected to be concluded by the end of November.

Consultation with staff has now begun.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the factory plays a key role in supporting employment in a socio-economically deprived area of Glasgow.

She added: "It's disgraceful that the Co-op has chosen to close its factory when other viable options remain on the table including a new-built factory in Glasgow."

Unite regional coordinating officer Alison MacLean said the funeralcare business was successful and had made about £6m in operating profit in recent accounts.

She said: "Co-op Funeralcare is a growing and profitable side of the business. The Co-op is investing significant money on a new site therefore why is it not doing this in Glasgow?"

"This is a significant employer in an area with high levels of social deprivation. The Co-op can't dodge its responsibility to these workers."

A spokesperson from Co-op Funeralcare said a strategic review had been carried out and the new factory plan meant they would be "more centrally positioned to operate more efficiently as a business".

They added the new factory would "allow us to introduce the most up-to-date manufacturing equipment and help support the growth and innovation of our funeralcare business."

The spokesperson added: "We fully recognise the contribution of our colleagues at our coffin factory and understand the concern and uncertainty that this proposal will cause, and we will provide full support to those colleagues impacted.

"However, we have needed to balance this proposal against the current and future needs of our members and clients, and we believe this proposed change will help deliver a more sustainable Co-op Funeralcare."