Battle to save Burton’s biscuit factory in Wirral goes on
POLITICAL leaders from Wirral met the business minister as part of continuing efforts to save the Burton’s biscuit factory.
The company which makes Jammie Dodgers announced in January that it wanted to shut its Moreton site with the loss of 342 jobs and began a 90-day consultation with staff.
Last week officials from the union Unite, along with Wallasey MP Angela Eagle, met the company to put forward an alternative proposal to keep the site open.It is understood this would still involve job losses, but Ms Eagle said it would provide for “a viable future for Burton’s on the site”. Burton’s has said it will keep “an open mind” about the plan.
Yesterday Ms Eagle, along with council leader Jeff Green and chief executive Jim Wilkie met business minister Mark Prisk to discuss the options for the factory.
Angela Eagle said the meeting was “part of a process and we are not at the end of it yet”.
The meeting was, she said, an opportunity to “share with the minister some of the issues of the union’s counter proposal, discuss issues of investment and future uses of the site”.
Ms Eagle said: “There is a viable future for Burton’s on the site and we have shown them how this can be done.”
Council leader Jeff Green said it had been a “a positive meeting”.
He said: “We explained the issues surrounding the Burton’s factory and alternative proposals which have been put forward, the history of the site.
“I would say it was a broadly positive meeting and the minister was very supportive in making sure the interests of the people in Wirral are being attended to. We are doing our best to see if we can maintain Burton’s in Wirral.”
Following the meeting with the unions a spokesman for Burton’s Foods said: “We will consider all elements of the counter proposal.”
THE ECHO
