Union may challenge plant closure

A sales, marketing and admin operation is set to remain

Workers from a closure-threatened pen and pencil factory are considering legal action following a visit to the company's German headquarters.

Staedtler announced plans to close the site in Pontyclun in Rhondda Cynon Taff last year, with the loss of 150 jobs.

But GMB union officials, who travelled to Nuremburg, claimed the decision to close the plant had been taken two months before it was announced.

The union said it had been told the closure decision was "irreversible."

The GMB claims that means there was no meaningful consultation about closure.

The unioon delegation met representatives of the German union IG Metall ahead of a meeting with Staedtler's chief executive Axel Marx on Monday.

They said IG Metall officials knew about the Pontyclun closure two months before it was announced, but the Germans were not aware Staedtler had not held consultations with the GMB prior to this.

During a meeting with Mr Marx, he told the GMB the board's decision to close the factory was irreversible.

Staedtler has blamed the closure on pressures of increased business globalisation.

The restructuring was announced last June.

Back in November, a "funeral march" protest was held to the sound of a New Orleans-style band, where workers were joined by Pontypridd's AM Jane Davidson and MP Kim Howells.

A sales, marketing and administration complex is scheduled to remain, operating from new premises in the area.