Union’s demands for Hygrade staff
From the Wiltshire Times, first published Friday 3rd Mar 2006.
UNION officials have blasted bosses at the doomed Hygrade Foods factory saying they have not been "entirely honest" with the 550-strong workforce.
Regional organisers at the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) wrote to Hygrade's parent company Tulip Foods to express their concerns.
Hugh Kirkbride from T&G wrote to Jeff Steer, managing director of the cooked meat division of Tulip Foods.
The letter read: "We are also concerned that the company has not been entirely honest with the workforce about the constraints of the site, which is the manifest reason for the closure.
"Please could you let me know why the company did not buy Fowlers Yard when this became available, and could you also explain the company's involvement in the change of planning use for the site that was agreed by North Wiltshire District Council about four years ago."
T&G, which is not formally recognised at the Chippenham site but has a significant membership, made a list of demands to the company including:
£1,000 redundancy terms for everybody for each full year of service.
The company should continue to consult with the established Works Council.
If jobs become available at the Corsham factory, staff from Chippenham who want to transfer should be redeployed, not made to apply in open competition.
A relocation package must be agreed upfront with the Works Council.
The company also needs to discuss the possibility of a fair and transparent system of loyalty bonuses for those staying to the end.
The company must work with the Jobcentre Plus and other government agencies to help redundant workers find alternative employment.
Mr Steer, who was unavailable for comment this week, said last week: "The site is too constrained for us to extend the factory which we need to do.
"It is very very difficult for us to invest in the current site and it was not possible to stay in Chippenham."
Hygrade tried to move to a business park that was proposed for Showell Farm in 1999.
But a public inquiry turned down their application as well as the business park development.
Since the closure was announced last week, speculation is mounting over the future of the site.
Cllr Ross Henning said: "If the Showell Farm proposals had gone ahead, the factory could have moved there and all the jobs could have stayed in Chippenham.
"We need to make sure Chippenham doesn't become a dormitory town."
Cllr Judy Rooke said: "I hope we can use it for what the community wants and that is leisure facilities such as a cinema or 10-pin bowling.
"To lose 500 jobs in Chippenham is an enormous loss and I really hope we can try and get some more employment back into the town.
"There is an awful lot of housing in Chippenham and an awful lot more to come."
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