Dundee City East MSP Shona Robison has said it would a tragedy for Dundee of the Flint Group ceases operations in the city.
The Courier revealed yesterday that the company wants to transfer operations from its printing and packaging factory on Old Glamis Road to the US because of financial losses.
If the factory, formerly known as Day International, does close, it will mean the loss of 117 jobs.
Dundee City East MSP Shona Robison is to meet Fling Group operations manager David Wood on Friday in the aftermath to discuss the plant’s future.
She said: “With 117 staff potentially at risk of redundancy, this would be a tragedy for everyone affected and Dundee can ill-afford to lose manufacturing jobs.”
Ms Robison added: “I previously met with David Wood at the former Day International factory in Balgray Street in November 2012 when the company first announced it was facing difficulties due to the irreversible decline in printed media.
“This was due to changes in habits in the marketplace and the move of consumers away from books and newspapers to online sources.
“In 2012 Mr Wood told me that if they could reduce capacity then as the only European company producing these high-quality materials in the European market he hoped they could maintain their position in the market and protect the remaining 120 jobs in Dundee.
“At the time they envisaged a longer-term presence in the city. Sadly, this no longer seems to be the case.
“I will discuss these issues with the local management at a meeting and am already in contact with the Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism and am aware of work ongoing between the Scottish Government and its agencies such as Scottish Enterprise with senior management of the Flint Group.”
smorkis@thecourier.co.uk