NCR

650 jobs
Number of planned job losses

Announcement Date

11 January 2007

Employment effect (start)

Foreseen end date

Description

Cash machine manufacturer NCR has announced plans to cut 650 jobs at its plant in Dundee. NCR blamed the 'changing market environment' and competitive pressures for the job losses, but staff pointed to the existence of the firm's new plant in Hungary, opened last year. The firm said ATM production would continue at its plant in Budapest and at factories in Beijing and India. Staff who learned their fate after being summoned to a midday meeting at the plant expressed anger after NCR said in 2005 that the Hungary operation would 'complement' the Dundee factory. One worker, 42-year-old George Devlin, said: 'There were people in there who have worked here all their lives. Dundee is going to be like a ghost town - there is just total anger and disbelief.' About 100 staff have been kept on to make products developed by the company's research department. The city council's economy chairman, Joe Morrow, said the announcement was a devastating blow. 'This news comes after a long period in which many people have put in a huge amount of effort to rebuild the economy of Dundee,' he said. 'I am deeply saddened by the loss of so many jobs at a firm whose operations have been synonymous with Dundee for generations.' NCR, an Ohio company which employs about 28,000 staff worldwide, also specialises in airline and hotel self check-in systems. First Minister Jack McConnell said the Scottish Executive would look closely at the situation. He said: 'I and fellow ministers take this matter seriously. We take the future prosperity of the city very seriously and there will be early meetings to discuss this.'

Sources

• 11 January 2007: BBC News