Deeside AM Carl Sargeant holds talks with UPM bosses over Shotton paper job losses

Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sargeant has today held talks with company bosses after it they confirmed on TUESDAY more than 120 jobs will be lost at the firm’s Shotton papermill.

UPM said that an employee consultation processes concerning plans to close one newsprint machine at Shotton has now concluded and production will cease on one of the two newaprint machines leaving 121 employees, just under half the workforce out of work.

AM Carl Sargeant

“I have spoken with the managing director of UPM over the phone today, who told me that these are difficult times for the company.

“I was also assured that work would continue to prepare staff for redundancy and that the firm would work alongside Jobcentre Plus and Careers Wales to help support members of this very skilled workforce.

“I will keep in regular contact with the company to ensure the members of staff affected by the announcement continue to be adequately supported and would urge those who feel they need extra help to contact me, or Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami.”

UPM Shotton employs 370 people and manufactures standard newsprint, the paper used for newspapers and magazines, the company is looking to reduce production across Europe by 800,000 tonnes as it aims to increase profits by £115,000 -the reduction reflects the terminal decline within the printed press as newspapers and magazines move to digital platforms.

Machines will also close at UPM Kaukas and UPM Jämsänkoski in Finland bring the total job loses in the three plants across Europe to 373,  jobs will also go within its UK supply chain operations at Altrincham in Cheshire. 

Bernd Eikens, Executive Vice President, UPM Paper ENA:

“These decisions are unfortunate for the personnel involved, and the past months have been challenging for all of us. From the business point of view, the measures taken are necessary to improve our operating rates and profitability in the European paper business, which still suffers from overcapacity. By reducing capacity we ensure the efficient use of our remaining machines in Europe,” 

Production on Shotton papers other machine will not be affected by the changes originally announced back in November 2014