A Bishopstoke firm's plans to close a department and move 40 jobs to Romania have sparked strike threats.

Prysmian Bishopstoke on Chickenhall Lane, which produces telecom cables, is considering moving production to Romania to reduce labour costs.

This would mean the closure of the only department of its kind left in the UK.

Unite has said that the factory's workers will begin a consultative ballot for industrial action over the plans.

The union has said that the plans would affect 40 jobs at the factory, which employs around 250 people.

Unite has also said that Prysmian admitted during initial consultations that the factory is profitable.

It is understood that the factory opened as the Telephone Cable Factory in 1967.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Hugely profitable Prysmian’s disgraceful plans are the ugly and irresponsible face of corporate greed.

"It admits its Bishopstoke operations are successful, yet it plans to throw loyal and hardworking staff under the bus to squeeze out as much extra cash as it can.

"Prysmian’s Bishopstoke workforce have Unite’s total backing in fighting against these abhorrent plans."

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According to Prysmian's financial report for 2024, the company has 'excellent cash generation with free flow at €1,011m' and profitability increased by 18.4 per cent to €2 billion.

The company's website, it manufactures thousands of miles of underground and submarine cables and systems for power transmission and distribution, as well as medium and low voltage cables for the construction and infrastructure sectors. 

The firm also produce a range of optical fibres, copper cables and connectivity systems for voice, video and data transmission for the telecommunications sector.

Unite regional officer Malcolm Bonnett said: "Prysmian’s anti-worker plans are about greed not need and must be scrapped.

"Unite will be lobbying BT to ensure it steps in and demands that its cables, which are used in the UK, are produced in the UK."

Prysmian Bishopstoke was approached for comment.