Jobs to go as city bakery shuts down production
ABAKERY is set to cease production with the loss of more than 170 jobs. Allied Bakeries has confirmed it will stop producing bread at its factory in Llanishen, Cardiff, on September 13.
The company confirmed 176 employees will be made redundant, including members of management and operations.
The bakery, which has been running at the Maes-y-Coed Road site since 1971 and produces Kingsmill bread, is set to become a logistics depot, distributing products into Wales and the south west of England.
The Bakers Food & Allied Workers Union have been negotiating with the company in the hope of keeping bread production open at the site and saving jobs.
There was a consultation with staff since an announcement was first made in June.
Representatives said they are “dissatisfied” with the consultation process, claiming the company did not negotiate “with an open mind”.
Yesterday a spokesman for Allied Bakeries said: “Following a period of consultation with employees and their
representatives, Allied Bakeries can confirm that it will be ceasing bakery operations at its Cardiff facility.
“In light of highly competitive market conditions and following the loss of a major own-label contract earlier this year, the business reviewed a number of options to improve efficiency across its UK bakery network.
“This process concluded that reallocating the Cardiff bakery output into Allied Bakeries’ wider network was the most effective way of responding to these challenges.
“While we will continue to operate Cardiff as a distribution centre, we can regrettably confirm that 176 employees will made redundant, including members of management and operations.
“We are acutely aware of the impact of this decision on those affected, all of whom will be offered an enhanced redundancy package along with support to help find alternative employment either in the local community, or at another Allied Bakeries site in the UK.
“We will also be liaising with other local businesses, the Department of Work and Pensions and Careers Wales to help identify training and employment options for those impacted.”
John James, organising regional secretary for the Bakers Food & Allied Workers Union, has been leading the consultation with Allied Bakeries.
“We are very dissatisfied with the consultation,” he said. “We believe that it has not been meaningful and has been a sham as the company did not enter into the consultation with an open mind. It was apparent that they had already made their decision.
“They have also failed to supply the union with the information that we need to assess the decision and consult with them on whether there are any other options available.”
Mr James said he has contacted the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) and intends to take legal action on behalf of his members against Allied Bakeries.
Clive Thomas, managing partner of Watkins & Gunn, who are representing the union, said: “Due to the absence of any meaningful consultation due to Allied Bakeries’ refusal to provide the required information, we are instructed to issue a claim for a protective award, initially to ACAS, and, if necessary, to take it to the employment tribunal.”