Apparently Britvic told its Norwich workers their jobs were being axed during their annual Christmas dinner – according to MP Clive Lewis.

What appalling timing.

Notice the difference in numbers. It seems we are to understand the seven extra staff are on the fixed-term contracts mentioned in the Guardian story below.

Would it be beyond the pale to ask whether they – however many there are – were employed on fixed-term contracts because bosses knew this closure was coming?

And would it also be beyond the pale to ask what kind of “redeployment opportunities” are being offered on other sites?

Zero-hours contracts? Fixed-term contracts?

It wouldn’t be the first time an employer found an excuse to cancel workers’ contracts and then re-employed them on worse terms. Local authorities seem to do it all the time.

So This Writer believes Mr Lewis was being extremely restrained when he posted this reaction to the closure on Facebook:

“I am so, so sorry for all the Britvic employees and families who’ve just got the news that Britvic have decided to leave our city.

“It’s a real kick in the teeth to the city of Norwich

“The workers there will have felt that Britvic went into this process knowing full well which way it was going with this.

“It’s a real body blow for staff who have worked so hard and they have every right to feel hard done by.

“It’s an awful time of year for this to happen and they have to go back to their families knowing the company is leaving.

“There are of course knock-on effects for Colman’s too, which remain to be seen. This city and generations of families have contributed to making the brand what it is.

“I know that at least one trade union for the site is deeply unhappy with the way that the consultation preceding closure was conducted. I am working with that union to try and get some kind of more positive outcome from all of this for employees.”

Britvic’s factory site in Norwich is to close, affecting hundreds of jobs.

The drinks manufacturer said it would be transferring production of Robinsons and Fruit Shoot from Carrow Works to other locations across the UK, with the site to close towards the end of 2019.

It said it would offer every employee affected redeployment opportunities at its other sites and help to find alternative employment.

A spokeswoman said that Britvic employed 249 people at Carrow Works but that this included a number of staff on 12-month fixed-term contracts which will end before the site closes.

Source: Hundreds to lose jobs as Britvic shuts down Norwich factory site | Business | The Guardian

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