A UK trade union said today (13 May) that it will hold “crisis talks” tomorrow with United Biscuits over the UK snack maker’s proposals to move jobs to India.
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The McVitie’s maker has drawn up proposals to “reorganise” its finance division and outsource jobs to India.
Some 79 jobs could be affected and United Biscuits told just-food that it had started talks with staff to discuss the plans.
“The proposal…is designed to allow the business to compete effectively in a competitive marketplace and have greater capacity to adapt to changing trends and business requirements,” a United Biscuits spokesperson said.
“As a successful manufacturer operating in an intensively competitive marketplace, we need to continue to grow our brands to safeguard the jobs of our other employees around the UK.”
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By GlobalDataSome 51 of the workers potentially affected are based in Liverpool, where a union-led campaign has sought to pressure United Biscuits to keep the jobs in the UK.
Union regional officer Debbie Brannan said: “The mood of the workers is one of anger. People are frustrated and upset. They feel as though they have been kept in the dark all along over plans to move Liverpool jobs to India.”
Brannan added: “We believe UB are not abiding by their legal obligations with a shortened consultation period of 30 days when these workers have every right to expect the full three months consultation period. They’ve had months to consider the jobs plan yet they expect us to come back with alternative proposals to save these jobs in just 30 days. This is utterly unacceptable.”
The United Biscuits spokesperson, however, said a final decision had yet to be made. “No decisions have been made, nor will any decisions be made until full consultation with the relevant stakeholders has been completed,” the spokesperson said. “If after a full consultation the proposal is agreed, we will do all we can to mitigate the impact for our employees.”
