Unite seeks Cadbury jobs pledge as Kraft splits in two
4 August 2011
Unite, the largest union in the country, is seeking assurances
about UK jobs and production at Kraft and Cadbury, following
today’s (Thursday 4 August) announcement that Kraft is set to split
its business into two independent companies.
Unite warned that debt-laden conglomerate Kraft may be seeking
to pay down hefty owings built up by the company after years of
acquisitions, including its 2010 takeover of Cadbury, the iconic
British chocolate maker.
Kraft wants to create a global snacks business and also a
high-margin North American grocery business by the end of 2012.
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: ”Kraft is a company
that is built on acquisition and debt. It is a long time
since it profited through innovation. So we are forced to ask
– is this latest move a way of paying off some of that debt?
”We want to talk to Kraft’s management urgently and seek
assurances that jobs and production at Kraft and Cadbury in the UK
would be secure. We want strong pledges from the company that
today’s ‘split’ won’t jeopardise jobs and production in the UK.
”Kraft is not an easy company to deal with. The business select
committee accused the company of flirting with ‘contempt’ of
parliament for its repeated refusal to put its CEO, Irene
Rosenfeld, forward for questioning by MPs.
”Unite has continually argued that this global firm’s intentions
towards thousands of its UK workers remain shrouded in mystery -
and we are still no closer to a Cadbury Law to defend UK-based
companies against predatory purchases.”
ENDS
Notes to news editors:
For further information please contact Unite communications
officer, Shaun Noble, on 07768 693940
