Merseyside NHS equipment ‘lifesavers’ have been offered a ‘pittance’ by bosses who are cutting their jobs to move the factory to Costa Rica, says GMB union.
Terumo Europa NV, in Knowsley, employs 110 people make specialist cardiovascular and oncology equipment for the NHS, but is set to close after 25 years.
The company wants to move production to the Central American country as a cost saving exercise.
During consultation talks workers – many of whom have worked at the factory for decades – have been offered just a few hundred pounds compensation for losing their jobs. [case studies available, see notes to editors]
Karen Lewis, GMB Organiser, said:
“GMB members are disgusted at being offered a pittance after having their livelihoods taken away.
“They were hailed as life savers during the lockdown period, now Terumo is throwing them to the wolves.
“We all know shipping the factory to Costa Rica is a cost saving exercise – management must use some of those increased profits to try and patch up the hole they’ve left in the Knowsley community.”
