LIVERPOOL, England, November 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Unite the union is holding urgent talks with managers at BP/Castrol after the company announced its plan to close its site at Ellesmere Port.

Nearly 100 jobs at the BP/Castrol lubricant plant, which blends and fills oil for Castrol GTX, GTX Magnetec and Duckhams, will be lost if the closure goes ahead. The company plans to transfer the work to other plants in Europe. Those plants will then provide lubricants for the UK market.

Unite the Union, who represent the workforce, will meet BP/Castrol managers again on Monday 1st December. Unite says it and the workers will do everything possible to keep these jobs in Ellesmere Port.

Unite Regional Officer, Graham Daley said: We are shocked and saddened about the announcement. Our members at BP/Castrol, Ellesmere Port are very angry. Unite is seeking clarity on the rationale behind this decision, and an explanation as to why such a successful operation is being closed down.

Our first concern is for our members and their families, for whom this will have come as a major blow just prior to Christmas.

Workers at the BP/Castrol site have hit all the targets set by the company and did not expect closure. This is a profitable company that intends to transfer the work to Europe. We believe that a company that makes substantial profits in this country has an obligation to maintain a plant in this country.

Unite and our hard working reps will do everything they can to explore alternatives to save the last remaining BP Castrol lubricant plant in the UK.

For further information please contact Karen Viquerat on +44(0)7768-931-316.