The UK’s biggest trade union, Unite, is threatening Arla Foods with legal action over the company’s plans to close its fresh milk processing production facilities at its Hatfield Peverel dairy in Essex, England.
Arla, which announced the move last March, said the closure was subject to consultation with those affected. The company said then the Hatfield Peverel dairy could be closed by the end of July, with the loss or relocation of up to 200 jobs.
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Arla said its site at Aylesbury, in which it had invested GBP150m (US$216.2m) and which it said was the world’s largest dairy operation of its kind, would take on the bulk of the Essex processing operation.
However, Unite said yesterday (2 June) Arla had “failed to properly consult the workforce” and the union. Regional officer Mark Barter said: “We were told quite clearly by local management that the decision was made to close the site between January and February… yet Unite wasn’t notified until March, so any consultation then became a fait accompli.”
Barter said Unite had registered for talks with the UK arbitration and conciliation service, Acas. He said: “If this case goes to a tribunal hearing, the total costs and damages for Arla Foods are likely to run into hundreds of thousands (of pounds) – a substantial figure, so we urge them to settle now.”
Arla’s Hatfield Peverel site has the capacity to process 356,000 litres of milk per day and processes fresh milk for Arla Cravendale and Arla Big Milk plus own-label fresh and organic milk for major retailers.
Officials at Arla had not responded to a request for comment.
