First broken promise by Kraft? - Government must now intervene as
400 Cadbury jobs set to go
9th February 2010
With the ink barely dry on Kraft's takeover of Cadbury, fears
are deepening that the Somerdale plant is to be the first casualty
of the new regime.
Amid growing uncertainty over Kraft's plans for the 400 workers
at the site, Unite the union is demanding that the company comes
clean on its plans for the entire Cadbury workforce.
Somerdale, earmarked for closure later this year under Cadbury
ownership, had been promised a reprieve by Kraft during the
takeover battle although Unite, the workers' union, had repeatedly
questioned the authenticity of those commitments.
Now, with rumours circulating that auditors are to begin
moth-balling the plant barely a week after Cadbury changed hands,
Unite says the government must waste no time in holding Kraft to
account over its intentions towards thousands of UK manufacturing
workers.
Jennie Formby, Unite national officer for food and drink who is
to visit the plant tomorrow (Wednesday) said: "The ink is barely
dry on the takeover and a promise made to the Cadbury workers has
been broken. If the rumours now circulating are to be believed,
Somerdale looks set to be the first casualty of Kraft's
ownership.
"Understandably, the Somerdale workers are starting to get very
distressed by this mounting uncertainty. They have been on a
rollercoaster of emotions since the shock closure announcement over
two years ago so when Kraft made repeated promises to save their
plant they were thrilled. Now despondency and anger are
setting in.
“Promises were made to the Somerdale workers which it seems
Kraft had no intention of fulfilling, and which appear now to have
been a cynical attempt to curry favour with the British public
during what was an extremely unwelcome and unpopular
takeover. This is not just a tragedy for this workforce but
is also sending a very worrying message to the rest of the Cadbury
workforce."
Jack Dromey, Unite deputy general secretary, said that the
government must now step in to ensure Kraft ends the chronic
uncertainty besetting the workforce: "While Irene Rosenfeld may be
talking to ministers and the media, no one is talking to Cadbury's
workers. Only last week, Lord Mandelson was pushing Kraft for
assurances on jobs and investment but promises of a bright future
are already being broken. The longer Kraft avoid dealing with the
workers' union, the more workers will suspect that cuts are
coming.
"The government should now act to bring together Kraft and
Unite.”
Jennie Formby will be at the Somerdale plant tomorrow,
Wednesday, to meet with the workers from 10am.
ENDS
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