More than 1,100 sign petition for Goodyear
More than 1,100 have signed a petition against the closure of Wolverhampton's Goodyear tyre factory.
People as far afield as New York, Canada and Mexico have backed the campaign.
The move will see 330 jobs go when the Bushbury Lane plant closes in 2017. The online petition, which was set up by factory staff, has now reached 1,112 supporters. Among comments being left by people from the Black Country are messages of support from thousands of miles away.
Maria Kenepp from Watertown, New York, wrote: "I am originally from the Akron, Ohio, area and know how important jobs like these are to the community.
"These employees rely on the jobs and so the local economy. The city of Akron suffered when many employees were let go. It was who we were.
"Keep this plant open. It is a part of who the people are. The loss of this plant will devastate the area."
And Héctor Becerra from Mexico wrote: "In solidarity support from Mexico."
Closer to home, Peter Webster from Coven added: "Closing this plant is a waste of local expertise, talent and recent investment. Current employees have done everything requested of them ..... what for? Certainly not to be treated in this way! They and the city deserve better," he said.
Soul singer Beverley Knight is among the high-profile stars to have pledged her support for the campaign.
Beverley, who is originally from Penn Fields, also took to Twitter to express her astonishment at Goodyear bosses offering jobs to laid off staff at a new plant more than 5,000 miles away in Mexico.
Earlier this month it was reported that a notice was on display in the Bushbury Lane factory offering workers the chance to apply for positions in the new plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Under the heading: 'An exciting opportunity for your career', it advertises for positions in the human resources, production and quality departments at the Mexican plant, which is set to open at the same time the Wolverhampton site closes.
The move was branded a 'kick in the teeth' by staff and 'crazy' by union bosses.
Chancellor George Osborne has said the Government would do everything it could to help staff at the factory.
Prime Minister David Cameron said he too is open to talks about the future of the site.
Unite is holding a series of meetings with Goodyear bosses in the hope of changing their minds.
The petition to save the Goodyear plant can be found at change.org
