Poultry firms seek help from Mandelson
EU - EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson is being lobbied to help UK poultry firms such as Bernard Matthews which are having to make job cuts due to cheap imports.The Norfolk turkey producer has already announced it is shutting part of its oldest factory at Great Witchingham with up to 112 redundancies.
The company employs a total of 4500 people at the North and South sites at Witchingham, Holton and at the farms.
Talks are continuing with unions to limit the extent of the losses and the first wave is likely to happen in July.
Poultry industry representatives, including Bernard Matthews managing director David Joll, met Mr Mandelson to brief him on the implications of the decision to allow more imports in and more pressure is set to be put on Government ministers.
Bernard Matthews general manager (human resources) David Ramsay said: "A small delegation from the industry met Mr Mandelson and he was taken by surprise. A meeting is also planned with Margaret Beckett (Trade Secretary)."
Source: EDP24
18 April 2005
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