First Milk,Mauchline sheds 37 jobs

More unexpected job losses hit Ayrshire on Monday when 37 workers at the Scottish Milk Products packing factory in Mauchline were laid off without warning.

The factory packs cheese for the French company Lactalis who announced that they are moving the packing operation to their own factory in Stranraer as of May 11. Although the staff from the Mauchline factory will be offered posts at Stranraer, for most this is not likely to be a practical solution.

Local Councillor for Mauchline Eric Jackson criticised the lack of consultation about the announcement and dismissed the offer of jobs in Stranraer as "hollow" because Stranraer "is not within acceptable commuting distance and many people will not be able to uproot their homes and families to make a permanent move there."

Councillor Jackson promised that East Ayrshire Council, Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire and other agencies would work with First Milk to "develop viable business options which will support the continued operation of this important company".