Black Wednesday at Blue Riband plant
JOBS TO GO AS BLUE RIBAND IS SWITCHED TO POLAND
MORE than 100 Tyneside jobs are at risk as confectionary giant Nestle proposes switching production of the Blue Riband biscuit to Poland.
The 110 job losses are expected at the Nestle factory in Fawdon, Newcastle, after the company put forward plans to switch production of the Blue Riband biscuit to one of its plants in Poland.
A 45-day consultation has begun on the proposals with trade union and other employee representatives, with the company saying it hopes to achieve all of the job losses through voluntary redundancies.
The Fawdon factory, which was previously operated by Rowntree, is almost 50 years’ old and much of its machinery is old, though workers said there had been investment recently in the Blue Riband production line.
Nestle said the move would simplify production procedures at Fawdon, which produces a wide range of products, including Rolo, Fruit Pastilles, Caramac and Breakaway.
The company said: “The proposed changes include amended and standardised shift patterns at each factory and, at Fawdon, the most complex of Nestlé’s UK confectionery sites, the transfer of Blue Riband production to a Nestlé factory in Poland. This would mean being able to simplify and focus Fawdon’s operation.
“These proposals are being made by Nestlé UK to ensure that these sites operate more efficiently and remain competitive in a rapidly changing external environment.” Nestle said the proposed changes, which also affect plants in York, Halifax and Girvan, would take place over the next two years.
The Blue Riband dates back to 1936 and is thought to have been launched to coincide with the unofficial accolade given to the passenger liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean in the quickest time.
Newcastle North MP Catherine McKinnell said: “This is absolutely devastating news for Fawdon, and I am urgently writing to the Business Secretary asking him to work with me, Nestle and the GMB union to try and find a way of retaining these good jobs here in Newcastle where they belong.
“The Government cannot allow its single-minded focus on Brexit to distract from the need to protect British jobs now, and I will be doing all I can to support all the families affected by this extremely disappointing decision.”
Tim Roache, GMB General Secretary, said: “To shift the production of an iconic British brand like Blue Riband to Poland is completely unacceptable.
“Nestle are throwing people’s lives, and those of their families, into turmoil for the sake of increasing profit margins. These factories should be exporting chocolate – not people’s jobs.
“The Government needs to step in before it’s too late – and reassure millions of workers across the country this is not just the tip of the Brexit iceberg.”