Closure of Goodyear review 'missing documents'

Goodyear failed to hand over key documents to independent assessors looking at whether the factory in Wolverhampton was viable, according to the union Unite.

The union has called on the government to intervene. A government spokesperson said it was monitoring developments.

The independent review was carried out by Syndex UK, a non-profit organisation that works with trade unions.

Goodyear said it had released all the necessary data.

The decision to close the Stafford Road plant - which has operated in the city for almost 90 years - was made in June. All 330 staff could lose their jobs.

Gerard Coyne, regional secretary of Unite, said: "The data that Goodyear has provided is not as extensive as we would have liked.

"Syndex have not seen the board papers that made the decision to close Goodyear.

"The basis on which the decision makers took their decision should be available to the independent analysts."

The union said the plant was profitable and productive, with capacity to outperform others in Europe.

In a statement Goodyear said: "In order for Unite to understand the company's business case, it has helped to fund the use of an independent business expert.

"At every stage the company has been accommodating both in terms of time and resources and made all the data necessary to analyse the business case, available to review."

The independent report is due to be returned to Goodyear next week, Unite said.