TRADE union Unite is considering court action in an attempt to stop the loss of 450 jobs at the 2 Sister poultry plant in Cambuslang.
The National understands that legal opinion is being sought after 2 Sisters executives decided to close the Cambuslang plant by August following consultations with the union about its future back in February.
In a notice given to workers at the plant on Thursday, a company spokesperson stated: “Despite everyone’s best efforts we have not been able to find an alternative to the initial proposal to close the company.”
Unite’s convenor of shop stewards Scott Walker disputes this, saying the door was still open for further talks with the Scottish Government but that “the 2 Sisters bosses slammed it shut last week”.
Walker said: “We met with the 2 Sisters’ management last week and asked for an extension to the consultation period so that the union could make further approaches to the Scottish Government who had offered further assistance, including the First Minister’s involvement, to get it over the line.
“The company turned that down flat.
“They told us the factory was closing and that the consultation on that could not be extended.”
According to a Unite statement it is the union’s “belief that, in this context, the obligation for the company to consult to mitigate or avoid a closure has been breached”.
The union also contends that before the company entered into the consultation period the decision had already been taken at board level to close Cambuslang.
Unite stated: “It is now clear that the company plan is to concentrate all cooked poultry processing in one site in the UK, in East Anglia. Unite is now to seek legal advice on these issues.”
Walker added: “This is about a closure decision that was already reached before consultation began. And then a process to deliver the company’s foregone conclusion. ”
The 2 Sisters poultry production plant has been in Cambuslang for 35 years. Unite claim that the company told them that there are serious problems with the structure of the plant, which 2 Sisters says is suffering on-going unsustainable losses, and “an inability to meet future customer and consumer needs”.
This may be a reference to the improved standards which 2 Sisters are introducing company-wide after adverse publicity about its production methods.
The company is also heavily indebted – its latest figures show a debt burden of £780 million.
Walker has worked at Cambuslang for almost 30 years. He said: “Obviously we are dismayed at the news of the possible closure. But it is far too early to accept that this is the final word. Unite will do everything in negotiation with the company to find a way to safeguard the future of the site and protect the jobs.
“The company are saying that staff can be redeployed to other sites run by the company – like Coupar Angus. That is not a viable alternative which dictates the necessity of fighting to save the plant in Cambuslang.”
The Scottish Government has already pledged to do what it can to help the workforce and local SNP MSP Claire Haughey said last night: “Yesterday’s announcement was devastating for Cambuslang and nearby communities.
“This afternoon, I spoke with Paul Wheelhouse MSP, the Scottish Government’s Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy.
“From this conversation, I have secured an early meeting with him, and other relevant stakeholders, to discuss the way forward. The Scottish Government share my desire to ensure those who are being made redundant find suitable new work quickly, as well as supporting the local communities and businesses who will be impacted on by 2 Sisters’ decision.
“I also agreed with the Minister that I will reach out to other local companies who may be negatively affected by this closure, and I will work with the Scottish Government to support them.
“The workers and community are going through an incredibly difficult time at the moment, and I will continue to assist them in any way I can.”
The company maintains it has spent millions on trying to stem the losses at Cambuslang. A company statement said: “We have tried every turnaround option available to us for several years, ranging from cost reduction measures and an attempt to grow the business organically. It has made little difference. And after many hours of talks in recent weeks, we have not seen any credible proposal to change our view.”
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