Union fury as photo plant axe leaves 210 jobs at risk

The company’s Morley site will close as part of a global review of operations. The factory makes printing plates for the commercial printing industry, production of which will move to Europe and China.

Unite regional officer Chris Daly said: “This is terrible news for the workers and their families, and a blow to manufacturing capacity in Leeds.

“Unite understood that the Leeds site was a profitable one for Kodak and we are seeking an urgent meeting with the management to discuss the situation. This is a significant loss of skilled jobs that can’t easily be replaced.”

Unite claimed a number of jobs are would be lost this summer, with the remaining workforce losing going in the middle of 2015. The production at Leeds will be transferred to other Kodak sites.

Robert Price, general manager of Kodak’s worldwide plate operations, said: “Our employees in Leeds have a long history of capably serving our customers with the quality products they have come to expect from Kodak.

“However, with the investments we made last year in the new high-speed manufacturing line, the capacity of our Osterode plant can now meet future demand growth from Europe, the Middle East and Africa.”

Phil Ball, the company’s managing director, added: “The decision to close the Leeds site is no reflection on our skilled and capable employees who have a long history of doing what it takes to meet the needs of Kodak customers with the quality products that they have come to expect from our company.

“I would like to express my thanks to the employees in the Leeds organisation, and I know that they will continue to work with the same dedication through the transition ahead.”

American-based Kodak has restructured after filing in the US for bankruptcy protection in January 2012.