MORE than 100 Scottish workers will be jobless by Christmas following the announcement today that a factory will close.

Unite has criticised the decision of diesel engine manufacturer Cummins UK’s management to close its manufacturing plant in Cumbernauld next week.

The closure comes as the result of a 90-day consultation period on the future of the factory, where 130 workers produce various types of specialist engines and generators in the oil, gas, retail and telecommunications sector.

Unite had been working with the Holyrood government to encourage Cummins UK to investigate potential ways to keep the factory open.

However, the union claims that bosses showed no interest in proposals to turn the factory into a plant for producing hydrogen cell batteries, despite the offer of financial assistance from the Scottish government.

The union is also critical of how Cummins UK management admitted that they only need to close the factory down in autumn 2020, and have questioned the management’s “insistence” on the Christmas closure.

Unite regional officer Pat Mcilvogue said: “Cummins UK management are shamefully intent on wrecking Christmas for 130 workers and their families.

“Throughout this 90 days consultation period on the proposed redundancies, they have rejected every viable option brought forward to make the factory sustainable rendering their own arguments redundant.

“Credit must also be given to the Scottish government for working with Unite throughout this period to keep the factory open.

“Unfortunately, it’s another example of corporate callousness and management must hang their heads in shame.”

Cummins UK had not responded to requests for comment at the time of writing.