BOSSES at the Michelin tyre factory in Dundee have confirmed that the plant is to close with the loss of 845 jobs.
Workers at the facility were told of the decision during a short meeting at about 8am this morning, before being sent home and told that production will resume on Thursday.
Most of the employees had already learned of the closure through press reports on Monday evening.
Unite described the move as a "betrayal".
Local MSP Shona Robison said the Scottish Government should explore whether anything could be done in relation to the Tay Cities Deal, through which £350 million of investment has been announced by both the Scottish and UK Governments.
She told BBC Scotland: "The first stage is: is there a viable plan that could save this plant? That's the question that needs to be asked and needs to be looked at in detail.
"If the answer to that is yes, then it's about looking at what would that take, where would it come from, is there something within the Tay Cities Deal?
"I don't know the answer to that, I think we're all trying to digest the news at the moment, but my view is I certainly haven't given up hope.
"I know that the strength of the workforce at Michelin and their management team - I've never seen such a partnership in a private sector environment before - it is very very strong, and I know if there is a viable option that everybody would seize that, but we need to work out whether there is."
Unite's Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty said there was still a fight to be had to keep the factory open: "Unite has been aware of the challenging market situation facing the Michelin Group.
"This has been primarily due to the cheap foreign imports from Asia and as a result falling demand for premium tyres in smaller dimensions, which the Dundee factory specialises in producing.
"This will be hammer-blow for Dundee."
He added: "The workforce can be assured Unite will fight tooth and nail to save our factory, we will leave no stone unturned to keep this factory open.
"Unite will work day and night to ensure that all options remain on the table."
Economy Secretary Derek Mackay will be in Dundee today, where he hopes to meet representatives of the workforce, the city council and the management team "to discuss whether there are viable options for the future of this site".
Michelin said it will implement a personalised support programme for each of the factory's employees and will work to help create 845 new jobs in the area.
It is to begin a consultation with employees and trade unions on the closure plan over the next fortnight.
In September, it emerged that jobs were under threat at the factory amid an "influx" of cheaper foreign imports into the European market.
Production for the next three years at the site was expected to stand at no more than 5.4 million tyres a year, described by the firm as "significantly below capacity".
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