Browse Sections

• Education
• Special reports

Jobs threatened by site sale

13/ 2/2004

JOBS could be under threat with the sale of the Spotland site that was once the home one of the world's largest manufacturers of asbestos.

The owners, the US-based Federal-Mogul, is in administration and plans to sell off the site and then lease it back from the new owners, MMC Developments Ltd and Rathbone Jersey Ltd.

Around 3,000 people worked at Turner Brothers during its glory days just after World War Two and 191 still work on the site in three separate businesses.

A Federal-Mogul spokesman said the 123 jobs in the sealing systems section, which manufactures engine and under-floor heatshields, are safe along with the 56 in systems protection, where protective sleeving is made.

But the 12 people working in the property services department could lose their jobs.

The spokesman added: "The everyday running of the site will be taken over by the new owners and Federal-Mogul will no longer have its own on-site property services team."

"We're entering into discussions with the 12 employees who work in property services, who have been offered new jobs, and these discussions are currently ongoing."

Federal Mogul bought out Turner and Newall, formerly Turner Brothers, in 1998.

The American giants filed for bankruptcy in their own country in 2001. At the time they were facing $351M dollars worth of compensation claims.

The company refused to comment on the financial details of the site sale.