Seafood jobs to fall through net

 

 The potential loss of up to 300 jobs at Young’s Seafood in Grimsby is extremely worrying news to the workforce and the local economy.

 

The company has lost a vital contract with Sainsbury’s and it is feared that the supermarket giant has gone directly to Norwegian company, Marine Harvest, which provides the farmed salmon to Young’s Marsden Road site in Grimsby.

 

“This is extremely serious and very worrying news,” said Dave Monogahn, Unite regional officer.

 

“We don’t know how many jobs will be lost yet but the company is looking to obtain new contracts to fill the void.”

 

Young’s workforce at Marsden Road prepare, smoke, freeze and deliver salmon to Sainsbury’s.

 

Two-thirds of the workforce of 300 permanent staff and 200 agency workers are at risk.

 

“We will be asking Sainsbury’s if Marine Harvest has the ability to provide the processed salmon directly to Sainsbury’s. Young’s Seafood facilities in Grimsby are first class and top of the range,” added Dave.

 

It is believed that the loss of the contact could also impact jobs at the Young’s Seafood plant in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.

 

“”We will be working closely with the management in the days and weeks to come to save as many jobs as possible,” said Dave.

 

“Right now we can’t put a figure on the number of job losses if any but the worst case scenario would be in the region of 330.”