Rayleigh's MP Mark Francois visited the E.ON call centre at London Road Rayleigh on Friday 19 February, to discuss the recently announced closure proposal with the company's management and representatives of the workforce.
Mark met with the head of the retail services division of E.ON, Mr. David Bird, and asked if the company might be prepared to reconsider its decision to close its Rayleigh operation, given the significant contribution which the workforce has made to returning the previously loss making division to profitability.
The trade unions at the site, including UNISON and UNITE are now working on a counter-proposal to E.ON to keep the site open and Mark urged the company to consider this, if it can be completed before the current consultation period ends in mid April.
Mark also met with around twenty representatives of the workforce of over 600 at the site to discuss their concerns. As a result of this discussion Mark agreed to encourage further help for the employees, including from the Jobcentre Plus, Network, Essex County Council and Rochford District Council. Mark, who initially raised the closure at Prime Minister's Questions on the day of the announcement, also said that he would continue to raise the future of the site and its employees in Parliament.
Commenting on his visit to E.ON Mark Francois said:
""This news has been very difficult for the E.ON staff in Rayleigh and their families and I am pleased I had an opportunity to visit the site and discuss the situation face to face with a representative grouping of employees.
I still hope that E.ON might yet reconsider but if they will not then we need to get the maximum possible amount of help for the employees to try and find alternative jobs elsewhere.""