The GMB union hit out at the McVitie’s owners. They said the biscuit firm should not be “leaving a legacy” in Tollcross, but “still be running a factory there,” reports our sister title The Herald.
The closure of the historic plant in 2022 saw more than 470 workers made redundant.
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It came despite the efforts of an action group, led by union chiefs, business people, and politicians, including Kate Forbes and council leader Susan Aitken.
Unions estimated that the decision to push ahead with the site ultimately cost the Scottish economy around £50m.
The site was sold last year for an undisclosed sum to Clowes Developments, one of the country’s largest property development firms.
The donation from Pladis was controversial as the firm required council officials in the Chief Executive’s Department to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
The company did not want to talk publicly or even have the money acknowledged.
Councillors accepted the donation last week at a private session of the City Administration Committee.
Details of Pladis’ involvement only emerged yesterday when The Herald reported that the Turkish firm who acquired McVitie’s in 2014 after taking over United Biscuits, were the mysterious benefactors.
Asked for confirmation, a spokesperson for the company, now reportedly the third-biggest biscuit maker in the world, said: “Since announcing the closure of our Tollcross bakery, it has always been our intention to leave a substantial legacy that would benefit the local community in the area the site was based.
“We will now explore the potential ways our donation can achieve this.”
Louise Gilmour, GMB Scotland secretary, said the 470 workers laid off by Pladis would “take cold comfort from its charity three years later.”
She added: “The people of Glasgow deserve more than the crumbs from the table of a multinational that made £100m in profits last year.
“They need good jobs and good employers who show loyalty and commitment to workers and their communities.
“Pladis should not be leaving a ‘legacy’ in the East End of Glasgow, it should still be running a factory there.
“However much Pladis is giving away now should have been spent protecting the legacy of Robert McVitie in the country where he was born.
“It should have worked to keep this historic plant open instead of sticking its fingers in its ears, ignoring widespread opposition, rejecting potential rescue plans and locking the gates in a needless act of industrial vandalism.”
Ms Gilmour said there were also questions for Glasgow City Council.
“Doing hush-hush deals behind closed doors with multinationals who have shown no interest in listening to local and national government when it actually matters is no way for Glasgow City Council to go about its business,” she added.
“There can be no more secrecy, this offer needs to be dragged into the light and the people of Glasgow deserve to know exactly what is going on and why.”
On Monday, a spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “Members agreed to accept the donation at committee last week and a further report will come forward in due course. We can’t comment further at this stage.”
