Representatives from the Transport & General Workers' Union (T&G) are meeting bosses at Heinz's Hayes Park headquarters on Thursday in a last ditch attempt to persuade the company to reconsider its proposal to close the HP sauces plant in Aston.
Heinz plans to close the site, which employs 125 staff, and transfer production to its plant in Elst in the Netherlands, which has spare capacity. Production will start switching to Elst from November, with the Aston site finally closing its doors in March 2007. The Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce bottling operation at Aston will be transferred to the other HP plant in Worcester.
Although Heinz has explicitly denied this, union bosses insist that shop stewards at Aston met Heinz managers last summer (when Heinz struck the deal to acquire HP Foods), and were reassured that jobs were safe.
John Jordan, national secretary at T&G's food and drink division, said: “This came as a massive surprise to the workforce. There were men in their fifties here that were weeping when they were told. It will be an outrage if they continue to use the picture of the Houses of Parliament on the HP bottles when they are made in Holland. HP is as British as the crown jewels.”
He added: “Aston Cross is profitable and modern. Danone [its former owner] had invested in the site, which is heavily automated, so it's not a case of being old or inefficient. The amount they claim they can save over 10 years is nothing for a large company like Heinz.”
Heinz said: “At the time of our acquisition of HP Foods, it was clearly stated that no decisions would be made regarding the future of its manufacturing facilities until a comprehensive review was completed. Contrary to some media reports we have not broken any promises to our employees.
“By closing Aston, it will be possible to redirect funds into more modern facilities at our production site in Elst, enhancing efficiency and productivity still further in order to better meet customer and consumer needs."
It added: “We regret having to make this proposal but it has only been made after careful consideration of all possible alternatives.”
An early day motion tabled by Birmingham Perry Barr MP Khalid Mahmood saying that Heinz should reconsider its decision has been signed by more than 100 MPs.
The text reads: “This House is concerned at the loss of employment that this move will cause in an area which already has high unemployment … and is further concerned that this factory will be closed without further consultation and consideration of other possible options; and calls on Heinz UK & Ireland to reconsider its plans and to engage constructively with unions and local politicians in order to ensure a positive outcome for this national institution and its workers.”