THE PEOPLE of the East End have thrown their weight behind a campaign to save jobs at the McVitie’s factory in Tollcross.
Activists from the Save Our Jobs Tollcross campaign took to Parkhead’s Forge Shopping Centre today for the first in a week-long action to gather public support against the proposed closure of the plant. They will gather every day this week between 12pm and 4pm to encourage members of the public to sign a petition that has now reached over 50,000 signatures.
Paul Smith, one of the organisers of the campaign said he has been ‘energised’ by taking part in the action. He said: “The public response has been brilliant. Everyone knows someone who has worked at the factory.
"It’s almost like a family. It has served this community for years and it has literally put the dinner on the tables of hundreds of families.”
Paul has worked at McVitie’s for fourteen years. He also thanked the Forge for the support they have shown the group of almost 500 workers. He added: "The Forge has been brilliant. I only sent one email and they came back and said: what do you need?"
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General manager of the Forge Shopping Centre, Paul Wishart, has also given his backing to the campaign.He said: "The McVities factory has been an integral part of the East end for a number of years, with generations of families working there since it opened.
We fully support the workforce in their bid to have the closure decision reversed, not only for current employment but to give the younger people in the area hope of future employment."
Dozens of members of the public stopped by the colourful stall in the Forge yesterday to show their support for the workers. Violet Taylor from Carmyle said: “I’m really annoyed about it. As you can see, I love their biscuits! It’s going to have a really big impact - look at the jobs. Fight on, and I hope they win.”
One former worker, Maureen McMillan, who worked for a Christmas at the factory said it would be a “big big loss” to the area. She said: “It’s a well known brand and I really feel sorry for the workers the way it’s happened. Especially under the current climate - trying to find other employment is going to be an absolute nightmare. My heart really goes out to them.”
Her husband Stephen said: “It’s alright politicians saying you can retrain for this and you can retrain for that, but it depends on your age and another company wanting to take you on or not.
Maureen added: “For the younger generations it must be an absolute nightmare. It’s not just individuals, it’s whole families who work in it. People are in employment - it could be you tomorrow.”
“Fight as hard as you can, shout loud and hard.”
Nicole Robertson, a local resident said: “I know that McVitie’s is a local factory and it employs local people. It’s important to keep jobs in this current climate. It’ll have a massive impact on the area, the area is already a poor area. It’s important for kids to see mum and dad going out to work as well.”
Linda Fee, who also lives in the East End said: “I think it’s awful for Glasgow. I imagine it would be very bad for the East End. Hopefully the petition works for them.”
The younger generation also showed up to show their support for their parents. Millie Stephenson, who is just 12-years-old came along on her day off school to support her parents who work at McVitie’s.
Her mum, Sharon, has worked at the plant for thirty-three years and met her husband there. Millie said: “I just want to support my mum because she’s worked at the factory for thirty-three years. She works 60 hours a week. My mum keeps the family going and she met my Dad there. Loads of our family has worked in there aswell.
“Everybody’s mental health will go down. That would have been my start job and I wanted to follow in her footsteps. I can’t now because they’re trying to shut it.”
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