The company said the plans would see the seven-day working pattern at the Grantham factory moved to a five-day pattern, in a bid to improve team availability, versatility and alignment to the company’s new manufacturing model.
A full, collective consultation process will be held with staff and their representatives that will be impacted by these changes, the manufacturer claimed.
Supporting staff
Andrew Nethercott, prepared foods business unit director of retail at Moy Park, said: “We will be providing staff with support and guidance regarding the proposed changes during the consultation stage and we welcome their input as part of this process. We are focused on offering as many redeployment opportunities as possible across the business.
“Grantham is a flagship facility with state-of-the-art equipment and technology, making it one of the most efficient of its kind. Our past investment ensures the site has capacity for growth in the future and Grantham remains vital to our overall development plans.”
Plans to alter working patterns at the site follow £20m-worth of investment over the past three years to secure the long-term future of the facility. Moy Park employs up to 1,000 people at the Lincolnshire site.
Strike action
Meanwhile, last month, workers union Unite threatened to hold a strike ballot for its members working for Moy Park, after disagreements over “unreasonable management demands” in ongoing pay negotiations.
A vote in favour for industrial action would have seen more than 3,000 of the manufacturer’s 6,300 staff walk out over an “onslaught on workforce terms and conditions”.
“In recent pay negotiations they have brought forward proposals seeking to undermine shift allowances, the sickness scheme, holiday entitlement, attendance allowance, Nomi/statutory days and decent breaks – terms and conditions that were hard won by this workforce over many years, which are simply not up for negotiation,” said Unite regional officer Sean McKeever.
