Union want to hold job talks

Feb 18 2009 by Douglas Dickie, Rutherglen Reformer

UNION chiefs at the Grampian Food factory in Cambuslang are set for showdown talks with bosses at Vion over proposed job losses.

And shop steward Scott Walker has vowed that they will continue to fight for workers at a national, rather then local level.

Meetings had been scheduled for the end of January, but the severe weather problems down south stopped officials from travelling north.

Now they look set to happen on Friday (February 20), with the union waiting to receive financial figures from the company who say they need to slash around 150 jobs at the Cambuslang base.

Scott said they were determined to make this a national issue and pointed to losses in England and Wales as proof that they were facing an overall review of the company’s work.

He will meet with other shop stewards from across the country before Fridays meeting to discuss their angle of attack.

He said: “We still believe this is a national review of the business, although the employer thinks it is a local issue.

“Other shop stewards have intimated to me that we will act as one and if the employer does not want to negotiate nationally then we could face difficulties.”

No-one at Vion was able to comment on the negotiations.

Meanwhile, a number of politicians have pledged their support to the workers at Grampian, joining the likes of Tommy McAvoy MP and James Kelly MSP.

Catherine Stihler MEP and Margaret Curran MSP both visited the Grampian factory last Friday and both said they were concerned by what was happening in Cambuslang.

Catherine Stihler said: “I will do all I can to help from a European perspective and I am grateful for the opportunity to meet with Scott Walker who was able to set out the latest developments.

Margaret Curran, MSP for the neighbouring Scottish Parliament constituency Glasgow Baillieston added: "I have been contacted by a number of constituents who live in my constituency and work at the factory.

“I will do everything I can to help support James Kelly in his efforts in the Scottish Parliament to ensure that Scottish Government Ministers take all the action they can to support workers in their fight to retain jobs in Cambuslang."

James Kelly said the visit from the duo showed how determined they were to try and save jobs.

He added: “I am continuing to put pressure on Scottish Government ministers to use some of the money they have set aside for the food industry to be used to help workers at the VION factory. I hope that ministers will respond positively to this request."

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