Boots reconsiders factory closure

Boots reconsiders factory closure

Boots is confident that its original decision will be backed

Boots is to reconsider its decision to close a cosmetics factory in Airdrie with the loss of 1,000 jobs.

The company has appointed an independent consultant to look at the reasons for the closure - and agreed to delay the first redundancies by three months.

However, the High Street chain is playing down the chances of a reprieve for the plant.

Boots has made cosmetics in Airdrie for more than 50 years.

There was anger when the company announced last month that the plant would be wound down over the next two years.

Olive branch

It said the work would be transferred to other centres, with the loss of 1,000 jobs.

Boots hopes the move will save nearly £50m over three years.

In the days after the announcement the company stressed there was no chance of a reprieve for the Airdrie plant.

However, Boots held out an olive branch at a meeting with union officials and Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell this week.

The company has made cosmetics in Airdrie since 1949

It has appointed an independent consultant to judge whether closure is the best way for the company to cut its manufacturing capacity by a third.

Other options could include shutting plants in France and Germany instead.

Boots said it would go along with the consultant's findings.

However, the company said it was confident that he will back the original decision.

In an attempt to reduce the effect of the closure on the Lanarkshire economy, Boots has also agreed to delay the first 350 redundancies by three months.

They will be moved back from October until the start of next year.