Workers ‘devastated’ by Nestlé plant closure
USDAW has slammed Nestlé’s plans, however, claiming that the move has put 230 jobs at risk, despite the firm offering workers alternative employment.
The firm announced on Monday (January 16), that its factory in Hayes, greater London, will be shut in 2014, with production moving to Nestlé’s facility in Tutbury, Derbyshire, as part of a £200M restructuring.
John Gorle, Usdaw national officer said: “This is absolutely devastating news for all the workers at Hayes, not all of whom would be able to move to Derbyshire even if the option was a remotely practical possibility for them.”
Transferred production
The Hayes facility employs 230 workers and Nestlé will be entering into a consultation with them over a possible move to Tutbury, where 125 new jobs will be created as a result of the transferred production.
“Usdaw will be doing everything we can to represent and support our members through this very difficult period,” Gorle said.
The union will ensure the consultation process is robust, with every alternative to the closure of the Hayes facility being explored, he added.
Nestlé is also hopeful that workers from Hayes will take some of the 300 new jobs created by the £110M expansion of its Nescafé Dolce Gusto production at Tutbury that were announced last November.
