Trade unions representing the 392 employees of Monroe, York, whose jobs are threatened by phased closure over this year WILL fight for the York shock absorber plant to remain open, either in full or in part.

Technically, the closure order from the Belgian European headquarters of parent company Tenneco remains a "proposal" because the law insists on a 90-day consultation period, but both the AEEU and the GMB recognise the truth of observations by Monroe factory manager Tony Smith - that any ideas to save the troubled factory in Shipton Road "would have to be fantastic."

The point is conceded by Malcolm Bushby, the regional officer of the AEEU based in Wakefield. He said: "We have not discounted trying to save Monroe. The workforce will be looking to us to see if there is any way of achieving this either in whole or in part and we will analyse this with he help of politicians and the City of York Council. But we have not to raise expectations and hopes unless we believe it is there.

"If somewhere down the track it became inevitable that hopes can't be met we will concentrate on our second strand by trying to make the job losses as painless as possible.

"That includes getting the best deal we can for them such as enhanced payments and seeking the help of the City of York Council, North Yorkshire Training and Enterprise Council and an appointed outplacement firm to ensure a continuity of work."

Mr Bushby said the Monroe closure proposal was yet another example of the strong pound taking its toll on manufacturers in the UK. "There appears to be anecdotal evidence that when European companies have a number of manufacturers throughout Europe, their UK outposts are more vulnerable than anywhere if cutbacks have to be considered."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.