HUNDREDS of people turned out yesterday to save a biscuit factory where generations of Scots have worked.

Almost 500 jobs are at risk of redundancy under closure plans put forwards by food corporation Pladis, which owns the McVitie’s site in Glasgow’s Tollcross area.

It’s nearing a century of operations, but production of famous brands like Hobnobs and Rich Tea Biscuits is now expected to move to one of six sites in England.

That shift would see the doors close at the east end site by the end of next year.

The National:

The plans are subject to a 90-day consultation but have triggered criticism from across the political spectrum. MPs, MSPs and councillors from across Glasgow joined workers and their families to urge Pladis to think again.

The crowd walked from Tollcross Park to the factory gates and Gary Smith, Scotland secretary of the GMB union, hit out at the closure plan.

He stated: “McVitie’s has been in the east end of Glasgow for nearly a century. Generations of locals have produced for the people, through ups and downs, austerity and prosperity, war and pandemic.

“This is the story of a company that has thrived during the Covid-19 crisis, generating eye-watering revenues and profits, and thanks in no small part to the efforts of a workforce who are now being rewarded with the closure of their plant.”

Smith went on: “It’s clear that the owners, Pladis, want to get back to ‘business as usual’, but the workers aren’t leaving this unchallenged – they want to protect food manufacturing in their community, they want investment in their plant and jobs for the next generation.”

Scottish Labour leader Anas ­Sarwar said his party stood with the workers in their fight to protect jobs, tweeting: “Solidarity with McVities workers in Tollcross. These jobs are vital to the community and a key part of Glasgow/Scotland’s economy.”

READ MORE: Glasgow McVitie's workers gather to fight factory closure

Labour’s Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP, SNP MP David Linden and Tory Councillor Thomas Kerr were amongst the politicians in attendance a the GMB-organised protest.

One worker, Sharon Henratty, spoke about the impact the factory’s closure would have. She said: “They’ve got an absolute cheek to say they’ve to shut it. We were essential workers and now we’re un-essential.”

She went on: “Everybody is going to be looking for work at the same time. I think it’s going to be very hard to find a job if there are 700 people looking for one.”

David Murray, managing director of Pladis for the UK and Ireland, said the Turkish-owned corporation – which has received almost £1million in Scottish Enterprise grants in recent years – has to “address excess capacity in the UK”. It has promised a “full and meaningful consultation with employees”.

A petition opposing the closure has attracted around 43,000 signatures.