Consultation has started over 40 redundancies at a glass factory in Knottingley – with a union blaming a lack of government support.

Verallia UK says it is starting up their “newly rebuilt, more efficient” L1 furnace in Leeds and shutting down the ageing furnace at Knottingley. It insisted that Knottingley remains “essential to our future operations, and we will continue to invest in the site this year and in the future".

The firm said the move will allow them to “consolidate production onto more modern equipment, strengthening the competitiveness of UK glass manufacturing while improving operational efficiency, increasing our use of recycled glass, and reducing CO₂ emissions to meet customer demand for more sustainable packaging”.

Darran Travis, GMB Regional Organiser, said: “Instead of running around telling us how good the Prime Minister is, Yvette Cooper needs to do something about job losses in her backyard.

Verallia said Knottingley "remains essential to our future operations, and we will continue to invest in the site this year and in the future"

placeholder image — Verallia said Knottingley "remains essential to our future operations, and we will continue to invest in the site this year and in the future"

"Knottingley is one of the most deprived wards in Wakefield. These are the only good quality jobs left in the area.”

Last year British Glass and GMB stewards lobbied Ms Cooper over a new packaging tax which unfairly penalises glass over plastic and aluminium, as it is based on weight. Mr Travis said the tax was one of the reasons why the UK industry did not have a level playing field. It is also being hit by high energy costs, extra taxes on employers, as well as competition from Europe and China.