Leeds auto parts firm closes its doors with the loss of 93 jobs

A MANUFACTURER that was fatally hit by the Boxing Day floods has shut its doors today with the loss of 93 jobs.

German-owned ThyssenKrupp Woodhead Leeds is closing its factory on Kirkstall Road after 17 years at the site.

It was announced that the company was struggling following the floods and in consultations in March.

Now, it has been decided that operations will be moved to Eastern Europe with a small sales and engineering division remaining in the UK to service national customers.

Unite regional officer Richard Bedford said: “We regard the actions of the company as a betrayal for this dedicated workforce that worked 101% to clear up after the flooding over Christmas.

“The factory has been on that site for 160 years, making about £2m a year in profit and had prestige customers such as Aston Martin, GM, JLR and Nissan.

“This was a solid profitable company that could have been relocated within Leeds – but the owners have used the flooding as a very poor and flimsy excuse to move, we believe, the work to eastern Europe.

“This is another nail in the manufacturing heritage of the UK – and a sign of how international capitalism works to the detriment of working people, despite the best efforts of Unite, Leeds Central MP Hilary Benn, and Leeds city council leader Cllr. Judith Blake to keep the plant and the 93 skilled jobs in the city.”

John Sandground of ThyssenKrupp Woodhead Leeds was unavailable for comment.