One of Perthshire’s biggest employers has been criticised after mothballing one of its plants, leaving six people redundant, before reopening it less than two months later.
Highland Spring of Blackford closed its premises in Gleneagles on December 23, telling staff they would have to apply for new posts across the company. Although nine of the 15 employees secured alternative positions, six were left out of work.
One, who is beginning proceedings against the company for unfair dismissal, told The Courier: ”It was suggested I apply for a job at Lennoxtown but the change in terms and conditions made it drastically different and, with the travelling, it wasn’t on and I decided not to apply.
”I wouldn’t for a moment accuse them of ageism but it was the older ones who were left without jobs, except one young girl who was a student and going travelling anyway.
”They assured the nine people who were kept on at Campsie and Blackford they would be offered their jobs back at a reasonable rate if they reopened Gleneagles but there was no indication to the rest of us that would happen.
”The reason we were told for them mothballing Gleneagles was that it would save them £500,000 a year and they stripped everything out of there. It must have cost them a fortune to put it all back and reopen.
”I accept the fact they mothballed the place and people had to move if it no longer existed but to hear it has reopened eight weeks later is a real slap in the face.”
Another former worker said: ”Highland Spring was always known as a caring company until the last few years when they started buying up other places and became more of a big group.
”Before we left before Christmas, the canteen and labs had all been stripped out and it looked as if it really was shutting eight weeks later, they’re back in there and doing exactly the same jobs as they were doing before.
”The same week, they’re advertising for agency staff to go and work at Blackford.
”They took nine staff back but left six of us out of work and we’re being treated terribly,” the worker claimed. ”I offered to go back and clean the offices or job share or take a cut in wages anything to keep working but they weren’t interested.
”The workers that are left are disgusted by the whole thing but have been told they’re lucky to be in work.”
Highland Spring defended the move, stating: ”Following significant year-on-year improvements in efficiencies at the Ochils site, the Highland Spring Group mothballed the Glen site in December 2011.
”Since then sales demand has far exceeded expectations so there is a requirement to operate the Glen site for a temporary period. The decision to mothball the site rather than close it was taken for circumstances such as this.
”During this temporary period, bottling will be undertaken by existing Highland Spring Group staff, supported by agency employees as has always been standard practice.”
Highland Spring bought the Gleneagles Spring Water Company in April 2001 for an undisclosed sum. The plant produces the Gleneagles natural mineral water, sourced from the local estate and famous for its distinctively-shaped glass bottle. It is available only in exclusive hotels and restaurants.
Highland Spring is owned by billionaire Arab businessman Mahdi Al Tajir. The firm acquired the Speyside Glenlivet Water Company, based in Ballindalloch, in 2009 and Campsie Spring (Glasgow) and Blaen Twyni (Swansea) in 2010.