Amicus deplores factory closure in Great Yarmouth

Wednesday 8th November 2006
 
Amicus is seeking urgent discussions with the management at Heatrae Sadia after its shock announcement today which seeks to close its heat rod element factory in Gourston-on-Sea with the loss of up to 70 jobs.
 
The company which is based near Great Yarmouth announced the closure, which will take effect over the next eight months, by calling all the staff in to the canteen and just telling them of the closure without any informal or formal consultation with the union.
 
Amicus Regional Officer, Mark Robinson, said:

“Amicus has recently been in discussions with Heatrae Sadia over a pay claim which included claim for an improved redundancy agreement and we can now see why the company rejected our claim.
 
“We are appalled by the company's handling of this announcement. They have shown absolute contempt for their long serving employees by failing to inform and consult with the unions or staff ahead of the announcement.
 
"We're talking to our members at the plant about the options open to us which will include the possibility of ballot for industrial action.”