United Biscuits Workers Lobby MPs to Save Jobs and Secure Their Futures

LIVERPOOL, England - Unite members at United Biscuits’ Liverpool Binns Road site are taking their fight to Parliament tomorrow (Tuesday 21st April 2009) to stop plans to move their jobs to India.

Around 170 workers across United Biscuits (UB) UK sites, including Liverpool, are facing job cuts if proposals to move UK jobs to India, go ahead.

Union members from the site will be making representation to local Merseyside MPs including Jane Kennedy in Westminster in a bid to save jobs and secure their futures.

The union wants United Biscuits to review their proposals and says it and the workers will pursue every avenue in fighting to keep these jobs in Liverpool.

Unite says the proposed jobs cuts will not only have a devastating effect on the local area but also future skills and jobs in the UK.

Unite Regional Officer, Debbie Brannan said: “We need as many MPs as possible to voice their support to keep these jobs in Liverpool.

“Management has been telling workers they have been doing a good job and that the company is profitable. Workers have delivered sales growth of 12% some GBP5.2 million over budget and achieved 98% efficiency in collecting company debts, the best ever, last month. Yet at the same time the company decides to pay back its loyal workforce with job cuts. It does not make sense. There is a wealth of skills and experience that will be lost if UB presses on with outsourcing plans.

“Private Equity owned United Biscuits appears more concerned about increased profit than long term sustainability. We have no guarantees about the impact on the rest of the business should these jobs be outsourced. The money they are talking about is miniscule in the grand scale of things.

“We urge UB to think again about making these people and their families unemployed.”

Over 3,000 people across Merseyside have already signed up to support the campaign petition to stop United Biscuits moving Liverpool jobs to India. Support the workers and sign the petition today at: www.unitetheunion.com/northwest.

On 16th May 2009, Unite will hold a march through Birmingham. This will be the centrepiece of the ‘Unite for Jobs’ campaign. The March for Jobs will spotlight the need for urgent assistance to defend jobs.

To see what the Unite for Jobs demands are or for information on the march visit: www.action.unitetheunion.com/campaigns/uniteforjobs

Notes to Editors

Background

United Biscuits brands include

- McVities digestives, Penguins, Jaffa Cakes, Jacob’s Club, Carr’s, Jacob’s cream Crackers, Twiglets, Hula Hoops, Skips, Mini Cheddars, McCoy’s and KP Nuts.

United Biscuits is the

- Number 1 maker and marketer of biscuits in the UK - The number 1 maker and marketer of nuts in the UK - The second largest manufacturer and marketer of savoury snacks in the UK - The second largest manufacturer and maker of biscuits in France; in the Netherlands and in Belgium

United Biscuits Topco Limited is a portfolio company owned jointly by private equity Blackstone and PAI. Blackstone is ranked number 10 and PAI number 22 in the global Top 50.

Source: Unite the Union

For further information please contact Karen Viquerat on +44-(0)7768-931316 or Debbie Brannan on +44-(0)7768-931271.