Unite, the union has said it is seeking an urgent meeting with the management of 2 Sisters Food Group, following the announcement it is planning to close its poultry processing plant in Essex. The union said it wanted to clarify the implications of what is proposed.
Unite regional officer Michelle Cook said: “The announcement that the 2 Sisters Food Group plans to shut its poultry processing plant at Witham, Essex is grim news for the 600-strong workforce and, more generally, for the Essex economy.
“Our first priority will be our members at this very worrying time for them and their families. We will be seeking to avoid compulsory redundancies and explore opportunities for redeployment to other 2 Sisters’ sites across the region during the consultation period.”
Last week the company said it wanted reduce the number of its UK Poultry sites in order to produce shorter, more efficient supply chains and make it more competitive.
Ronald Kers, chief executive said: “Our stated strategy is to become the number one poultry plus business in Europe and for several months now we have been engaged in a strategic review to facilitate our delivery on this, focussed on improving execution, reducing cost and building a better organisational culture.”
Ronald Kers, chief executive said: “Our stated strategy is to become the number one poultry plus business in Europe and for several months now we have been engaged in a strategic review to facilitate our delivery on this, focussed on improving execution, reducing cost and building a better organisational culture.”
As part of an ongoing review of the company’s loss-making sites, the company is proposing the potential closure of its UK Poultry business’ Witham processing site in Essex. Consultation has started and will explore all possibilities including redeploying Witham colleagues to other sites in the wider Group.
Kers said: “We’re all acutely aware that some of our plans, such as reducing our UK poultry footprint, brings uncertainty for colleagues, and it is with regret that we have to make such proposals. But the alternative of doing nothing and hoping for an upturn is not an option.”