The only way is up!

[tiddles]

From the Tele archives January, 2003

REDUNDANT Fullarton"s workers are finding there is "light at the end of the tunnel". Speaking at a special advice and information day held in Greenock, they said they were determined to fight back from the gloom that hit them when Fullarton"s shut the plant unexpectedly on 6 January with the loss of 500 jobs. The event, at James Watt College Waterfront Campus, was organised by PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) and featured many organisations giving advice about money, benefits, tax, re-training, new careers, further education and adult literacy. Jacqui Hughes (23) of Port Glasgow worked at Fullarton"s for five years, packing keyboards and doing other jobs. She said: 'I was really gutted at the way they treated us, but I"m pleased with the help we"ve been getting and I"ve now got a part-time job.' Jacqui is working with Steel Partnership Training, part of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation union, but is looking at several options for the future, including her previous experience of working in aromatherapy. Jacqui, who is single, said: 'I feel that the future is bright.' Pat Doolin (34) of Greenock, was a production operator at Fullarton"s for eight years and an ISTC shop steward. He said: 'Events like this are a great help to people. I was shell-shocked when Fullarton"s shut down and I think I will definitely have to look outside of Inverclyde to get a job.' The open day was also helping 300 part-time Fullarton workers dismissed before Christmas, 240 Clairemont and 200 Adecco people whose contracts at IBM were ended around the same time and 450 being laid off at Hewlett Packard in Erskine between December and March.

Well that was a load of pish wasn't it? And if Doolin was, "shell shocked" it just shows how out of touch he was because more or less everyone in Inverclyde knew that place was closing. ARSE