ROLLS Royce workers across the UK will take part in a day of action next month in support of 220 colleagues in Bootle whose plant is to start a phased closure next year.

The staff at 11 sites will parade with banners and placards in their lunch breaks on Monday, December 3, to show their opposition to the company’s plans to shift production to America.

At the beginning of this month, the company issued a 90 days’ notice of its intention to shut the plant, which makes turbines for the oil and energy sectors.

Last night union officials from Unite said they were still confident they could change the company’s mind and are due to meet with management and the North West Development Agency on Thursday to discuss rescue options.

Earlier this year a leaked management memo detailed the case to switch work to a site in Mount Vernon, Ohio, to reduce currency costs caused by the pound’s strength against the US dollar.

Last night, Unite regional officer, Debbie Brannan, said: “We have already gained a lot of support in the fight to keep this profitable plant open and we're hoping that the many thousands of Rolls Royce employees can add their support. We can’t get people to down tools, so we are asking people, in their lunch breaks, to stand outside the sites with banners and placards.

“The message sent to management is that workers across Rolls Royce UK are supporting Bootle.”

She said she was still “optimistic” that a solution could be found.

Rolls Royce wants to begin a phased closure of the site from June next year to March, 2009.

Unite senior rep Dermott Finn said: “We're going to fight this. Our colleagues support will be invaluable during this time.

“We believe with their and the community’s backing, we can win this fight, but we must all pull together to keep Rolls Royce on Merseyside.”

davidbartlett