UNION bosses have agreed to fight the planned closure of the Michelin plant in Burnley.

It was announced last week that the factory on the Heasandford Industrial Estate was to close in March next year with the loss of 452 jobs.

The French firm blamed the closure on a downturn in the automotive industry in North America.

The decision to fight closure was taken after senior officials from the Transport and General Workers' Union met with regional officers in London last week.

Peter Booth, national organiser for the TGWU, said: "If the French based decisions are implemented, it will mean that over 3,000 Michelin workers have been sacked in the UK in the past three years.

"We will put forward the case for the workers and insist that they receive no less favourable terms of consultation and change than their counterparts in France and the rest of Europe. Indeed it is fair to say that Michelin could and should not be making this decision in France without consultation with the trade unions that are involved."

The decision to close the plant has baffled the Union which claims the plant is one of the most successful in Europe and the workforce have always met management targets for production.

"Efficient plants being closed and skilled workers being sacked do not spell out a message of confidence," said Mr Booth. "The TGWU negotiated a four-year pay deal which we believed was in return for some measures of job security, but all we have at the moment is a feeling that once again UK workers are being left open and vulnerable to foreign-based companies looking for a quick and easy option to cut their workforce."

Burnley's MP Peter Pike is also pressing for a meeting with management representatives in France.

Michelin today refused to comment on the Transport and General Workers' Union's decision. The T&G negotiated a four-year pay deal which we believed was in return for some measures of job security, but All we have is a feeling that once again UK workers are being left open and vulnerable to foreign-based companies looking for a quick and easy option to cut their workforce