25 Furmanite jobs at risk in closure threat

THE Texan owners of two profit-making Scunthorpe engineering businesses facing shut-downs have been accused of being "short-sighted" by the town's MP Elliot Morley who is campaigning to save the 25 jobs at risks.

The Dallas-based Furmanite Corporation is in talks over plans to close down its three businesses in Scunthorpe and Stallingborough as a cost-cutting measure.

But the 25 employees on the two Scunthorpe sites on the Queensway and South Park Industrial Estates, who produce speciality equipment for the off-shore oil industry have warned: "We will not be leaving without a fight."

Last week they met their full-time officer from the Unite trade union on-site to draw up a plan of action before a show-down with the company next Tuesday.

A Furmanite spokeswoman at the UK HQ in Cumbria said: "Following a difficult trading year and with the short to medium term outlook in 2010 continuing to be uncertain the company is seeking ways to reduce its costs.

"This could include the closure of manufacturing operations in Scunthorpe and the depot in Stallingborough.

"Consultation with employees started on Wednesday. The proposed job cuts could affect employees throughout the UK.

"This action is a last resort. Furmanite is a people company and its strength is its people. However, forecast demand for its range of services, products and skills will not allow the company to sustain its costs at the current levels."

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