‘This is going to be terrible for the town’
More than 350 people will lose their jobs with the closure of a snack company’s factory tomorrow.
Walkers, based on the North East Industrial Estate in Peterlee, is to close a week ahead of schedule.
It is understood a team of drivers will continue to work until Friday, December 31, which had been set as the final day of operations by bosses, while workers say production has already come to an end at the site.
It signals an end of an era for the town, which has been home to a crisp factory since 1960includingvariouscompanies, and Walkers since 1989.
Its production line had been responsible for making Crinkles, Walkers Sensations, Scampi Fries, Bacon Fries, Cheese Moments and Cheetos Twisted.
Michael Hunt, a regional organiser for the GMB union, said: “Myself and our GMB membership feel that it is simply a matter of Walkers and the multinational parent company PepsiCo putting profit before people.
“The workforce, made up in some cases whole families with mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, reached out to the company via the union and some voiced their concern.
“One of them told me “What else will I do? I have worked here for nearly 30 years I don’t know how to do anything else.’”
One worker, who did not wish to be named, has said that many workers have not turned in for their shifts this week, knowing the final day was coming.
The worker said: “I think theearlyclosuremightbeseen by them as a gesture of goodwill, as we are supposed to be paid up until December 31.
“A lot of people have worked there for a very long time. This is going to be terrible for Peterlee.”
A spokeswoman for PepsiCo, which owns Walkers, said: “It is with sadness that we cease manufacturing at the Peterlee site.
“It has been an important site for our business and we would like to thank all of our colleagues for their hard work and commitment over the years.
“Their continued professionalism these past months has been remarkable and we are incredibly grateful for their dedication.”