Andy Burnham leads protest outdoors McVitie’s manufacturing facility over plans to chop nearly 160 jobs

Higher Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham led a protest outdoors the McVitie’s manufacturing facility in Stockport in opposition to plans to chop nearly 160 jobs.

He was joined by union members, Stockport Council chief Elise WIlson in addition to MP Navendu Mishra who mentioned the transfer could be “reprehensible”, the Manchester Night information reported.

The protest, which happened outdoors the UK’s solely chocolate refinery on Wednesday, Might 4, got here after proprietor Pladis confirmed plans to chop 159 jobs in March.

READ MORE: Nearly 160 jobs in danger at McVities’ Manchester manufacturing facility

At present, a complete of 470 jobs are based mostly on the plant.

Mr Mishra mentioned: “Chopping jobs throughout a price of dwelling disaster is as stunning as it’s reprehensible, and I hope the corporate engages with Unite the Union and USDAW to discover a answer which preserves the working way forward for this iconic Stockport establishment.

“While their payments are rising, staff deserve greater than anxiousness concerning the instability of their future.

“I’m additionally very involved that these proposals will see 1000’s of additional miles being travelled by diesel tankers at a time once we must be prioritising tackling the local weather disaster.

“Equally, while there’s common settlement that we have to degree up the North, Pladis’ plan to offshore these jobs will do the other.

“We want extra high-skilled, unionised jobs, not fewer. These proposals do not profit anybody.”

Mayor Andy Burnham added it was the ‘flawed transfer on the flawed time’. The Manchester Night Information understands that there are fears the plan is the ‘starting of the top’ of McVitie’s biscuit manufacturing in Higher Manchester.

In response, a Pladis spokesperson mentioned: “We perceive this can be a very tough time for our crew in Manchester. Our Manchester manufacturing facility stays an essential a part of our UK enterprise and our precedence is to supply workers with the on-going help they want as we stock out this session.

“Pladis is the proud custodian of a number of the world’s best-loved snacking manufacturers and we imagine strongly of their enduring shopper enchantment.

“However, like many different companies, we’re grappling with new and rising exterior pressures. We should, due to this fact, overview and take into account acceptable steps to safeguard the way forward for our entire enterprise.”