UNIONS representing hundreds of workers at an under-threat biscuit factory in Glasgow are demanding bosses engage with attempts to save jobs in a detailed proposal backed by politicians and staff.

Nearly 500 jobs are at risk at the McVitie’s factory in Tollcross, which opened nearly 100 years ago in the city’s East End.

Parent company Pladis has blamed “excess capacity” at its British sites and plans to close the site in late 2022 and move production elsewhere.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has previously pledged to ensure everything possible is done to save the site, though bosses issued redundancy notices last month. 

A fresh bid to save the site was made by an action group that includes union heads, politicians and businesspeople today, which would see a new factory built on a nearby site.

Union representatives said the plans put forward would help protect jobs in the area for another generation.

GMB Scotland organiser David Hume said: “It also represents months of hard work on behalf of the unions and action group representatives to support the workforce, who are fighting so hard for their futures.

“It sets out the way forward, and everyone should be positive that Pladis will look favourably on it.”

Pladis acquired McVitie’s in 2014 before cutting the then 680-strong workforce by nearly a quarter.

Nevertheless, the factory remains a “major employer in an area with higher levels of social deprivation and unemployment.”

Unite industrial officer Pat McIlvogue said: “Unite is asking that Pladis, the owners of the factory, study and positively engage with us on this proposal because we believe that everyone can win from this, most importantly the hundreds of jobs at stake in the local community.”

A pladis spokesperson said: “We have been presented with an alternative proposal as part of the formal consultation process.

“We are carefully considering and evaluating the detail of these proposals and will be responding to them through the formal consultation process.”