Coca-Cola Enterprises: 120 UK jobs are at risk
Its comments came as the Unite trade union said European trade unions were planning coordinated action on October 27 to protest against the restructuring, which it claimed was “being pushed through without proper consultation”.
Unite added: “While CCE is paying lip service to consultation, the European trade unions do not believe that this consultation will be meaningful and fear that CCE will force through the measures with few, if any, concessions or changes to its original plans.”
The joint trade unions are demanding that there should be “meaningful consultations, no forced redundancies and that the company should find suitable alternative jobs for those who are displaced”, said national officer Jennie Formby.
Coca-Cola Enterprises: No decisions have been made
However, a CCE spokeswoman said that no decisions had yet been made, and that employees were being consulted at every stage.
“If implemented the changes would impact seven sites in GB. The proposed changes could result in up to 120 roles being at risk of redundancy in GB, however 130 GB vacancies and new roles would be made available. We will seek to manage and mitigate the impact on our people wherever possible."
She added: “CCE is proposing to make changes at our manufacturing and distribution sites across Europe; these changes target a single, consistent way of working across our plants so that we can remain competitive and grow our business for the future.”
Edmonton pay dispute
As regards the ongoing dispute over pay at its Edmonton factory, she said CCE remained open to further dialogue but continued to believe that the 2% pay rise on the table was “fair in the current climate”
Unite members at the site have been conducting a series of stoppages in recent weeks and said that action would continue until CCE agreed to “enter into meaningful discussions to try to reach a fair deal”.
Unite regional officer Wayne King told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “Edmonton is very profitable and we have consistently smashed all of the targets set for the site. We believe that the offer should be more in line with the real cost of living.”
