July 24 2006 - The T&G is pressing the board of Heinz to agree a package of cost savings that have just been negotiated with managers of HP Sauce today in a bid to keep the Birmingham factory open.
The T&G has been campaigning against the closure since Heinz announced plans to shut the factory down, shifting production from Birmingham to the Netherlands, with the loss of 120 jobs.
The cost savings package, negotiated between T&G shop stewards and local managers of the HP Sauce factory in Birmingham, would see efficiency measures, changes to shifts, and a number of redundancies of workers and managers, although the T&G said it expected the worker redundancies would probably be filled by volunteers.
The Heinz board is expected to meet within the week. The T&G is urging the board to agree the package, which would keep the Birmingham factory open.
John Jordan, T&G acting national secretary for food, said: “The T&G has worked hard with management to come up with this cost saving package. We hope Heinz don't throw sand in our face and dismiss the efforts that have been made."
The Union anticipates they will hear the outcome of the board's decision within ten days.