Published: Wednesday, 16th April, 2008 12:00
MSP slams firm's 'rejection' of staff support
By Jamie MacDonald
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MSP Keith Brown has criticised Carlsberg for rejecting offers by the Scottish Government to help laid-off workers.
BREWING giant Carlsberg has been criticised by Ochil MSP Keith Brown for rejecting the Scottish Government’s offer to support workers being laid-off from the Alloa depot.
Mr Brown said he was “shocked” to discover the company had turned down the offer of support from Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE).
However, Carlsberg has stated it has not yet received full details of the proposals and is willing look at all the options available to support their staff.
The company will be making 41 workers redundant as its distribution system based on Greenfield Street moves to a smaller sight in the area to be run by KNDL.
Previously, the Clackmannanshire branch had been earmarked for full closure with a loss of all 59 jobs but 18 of those jobs were secured following talks between Andrew Caswell, Carlsberg’s strategic planning director, and local MP Gordon Banks.
A letter received by Mr Brown this week from Jim Mather – the Scottish Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism– stated, “When the announcement was made, Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley offered support under the PACE framework. However Carlsberg turned down the offer of support.”
Mr Brown had previously been assured during First Minister’s Questions that PACE would be deployed to provide support as early in the closure process as possible to assist workers in finding new jobs and he is disappointed that workers have yet to receive the available help.
He said, “I was shocked to see that Carlsberg turned down this offer. There are still 41 households in my constituency who will suffer from the closure.
“I would therefore like to ask why Carlsberg did not take up the offer of this assistance from the Scottish Government through Scottish Enterprise.
“I believe this decision must be reconsidered. Carlsberg has a responsibility to do everything possible to reduce the effect of its action – and that runs over and above announcing a slimmed-down replacement operation, which may very well have been in the pipeline from the start.”
In response to Mr Brown’s comments, Carlsberg released a statement saying, “In relation to the approach by Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley offering support under the PACE framework, unfortunately it appears that we have not yet received the detail.
“However, as part of our commitment to assessing all options, Carlsberg UK will gladly look at the options on offer to ensure we can make the right choices for our employees.
“Carlsberg UK remain committed to a full consultation process with all employees potentially affected at the Alloa site.
“We are continuing to explore all options available to support our staff in this time of uncertainty.
“We have guaranteed 18 jobs at a new site and we are working with KNDL for further employment opportunities throughout their network.”
The exact location of the new depot employing 18 workers has yet to be finalised although it has been agreed that it will be housed at a site within 10 miles of the current depot.
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