Honeywell staff dispute claims Luton factory’s future is secure amid relocation plans
Staff working at a factory in Luton have spoken out after their employer announced plans to move part of its production line to Slovakia.
Honeywell, in Camford Way, manufactures smart water meters and in 2015, it bought out Elster Metering (previously Kent Meters) – a brand that had been a part of the town for more than 100 years.
The company has stressed the proposal would not affect its “research and development and engineering capabilities, which will remain at the Luton facility”.
But a worker, who we have agreed not to name, claimed the factory won’t be able to stay open if the manufacturing is removed.
Staff were told about the plans to relocate its plastic manufacturing overseas at the end of May.
A spokesperson for Honeywell said: “Honeywell is proposing to move its Injection Moulding manufacturing line from its site in Luton to its Center of Excellence in Stara Tura, Slovakia, in order to be close to final assembly and testing.”
But voicing his fears, the worker told Luton News: “The whole site’s shutting down.
“You’re getting rid of the maintenance guys who keep the whole site maintained, you’re getting rid of health and safety… How can research and development stay on this site? It’s not possible.
“The history of 137 years, [you] can’t just sell that off.”
Honeywell would not answer questions about the number of jobs affected and when a decision would be made.
The whistleblower claimed: “Nobody on site, including management, understands why this is happening when we are a profit-making business.
“This is literally a modern-day Vauxhall scenario.
“Since they’ve taken over, they’ve been taking small departments away. Sites are set up on the other end.”
The spokesperson added: “This proposal is not made lightly as we realise it could affect valued employees at the Luton site.
“We will fully comply with all relevant employment laws, legally required notice and consultation obligations.”