Urgent talks call

Unite has today (March 3) called for urgent talks next week over the threat to about 300 jobs at Welcome Foods in Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire.

The union said that the planned closure of the site, owned by the Bakkavor Group, was ‘a heavy blow for the workforce, their families and the local Nottinghamshire economy’.

“The union wants an urgent meeting with the management next week, with the aim of mitigating and reducing the large scale job losses. We understand that about 300 jobs could be under threat,” said Unite regional officer Steve Syson.

He added, “We appreciate that this is a very tough time for the workers and the wider Nottinghamshire economy. Unite will be fighting 100 per cent to lessen the impact of this announcement.

“We want to explore the business reasons for the planned closure during the 45-day consultation period and the opportunities for alternative employment within the group.”

On its website, Bakkavor says it is ‘a leading international manufacturer of fresh prepared foods, employing over 18,000 people worldwide across 43 operating facilities.’