MP meets union officials for talks on how to secure Bromborough Tulip factory workers’ jobs

Jan 14 2009 by Sue McCann, Bromborough and Bebington News

WIRRAL South MP Ben Chapman has been meeting union officials to discuss the proposed closure of the Tulip factory in Bromborough.

Tulip UK Ltd announced last Wednesday that it was looking to close the factory later this year, with the loss of 303 jobs.

Mr Chapman has already expressed grave concern over this proposal and is committed to fighting to protect the jobs of the factory workers. The news came as a shock to all concerned given the relatively recent development of the factory and its status in recent years as one of Tulip’s flagship sites.

As the 90-day consultation process begins involving employees and union representatives, Mr Chapman met Unite regional director Franny Joyce and senior steward Chris Mann.

Mr Chapman said: “It was a productive meeting in which we discussed a number of strategies concerning how we can most effectively fight to save these jobs.

“I am meeting the regional managing director of Tulip UK Ltd in the coming week and will be working closely with Unite to search for a solution to this disappointing proposal.”

Staff were given the closure news in a meeting they say was originally scheduled for an update on pay negotiations.

A 49-year-old man from Moreton, who has been working at Tulip for two years, said: “People walked in to the meeting laughing and joking - then they told us we were on 90 days’ closure plus 90 days notice.”

Ten lines at the Bromborough site pack and slice cooked meats for Marks & Spencer, with one line working on ham for the Co-op.

Peter Judge, managing director (North East) of Tulip UK Ltd, said: “Against the backdrop of the continuing worsening of the UK economy, we have been looking at a number of ways in which to secure a long term future for the Bromborough site.

“Unfortunately, however, we cannot currently see a viable alternative to closure.

“We have been working tirelessly to find ways to negate the current economic downturn and have had to take some very tough decisions to secure as many jobs as possible throughout our operation but we have not been able to find a way to secure the long term future of the Bromborough site.”