Ericsson is planning to close its research and development
site in Coventry with the loss of 700 jobs, according to union
Unite.
The site only opened in May this year and the union says the
announcement came as a "bolt out of the blue" to workers.
Unite says it intends to fight the proposal as it would rob the
UK of an important technological site.
National officer Peter Skyte said, "This is has come as a bolt
out of the blue for the workforce and their families, who were
looking forward to a promising future in this newly opened
site.
"The former Marconi entity acquired by Ericsson a few years ago
was among the top ten investors in R&D in the UK and successive
governments have maintained the illusion that the country of
ownership of a company is immaterial," added Skyte.
"But this decision by Ericsson to close the Ansty Coventry site
and withdraw its R&D work from the UK shatters this illusion,
throws highly skilled workers out of work, and robs the UK of key
technological development vital for its future."