Coca Cola Enterprises (CCE) in Wakefield has been urged to rethink its compulsory redundancy drive, as more than enough staff have come forward to go voluntarily.
 
Unite, the country’s largest union, called on the company to rethink its ‘rigid’ stance on seeking 42 job losses at its new automated warehouse in Kenmore Road.
 
The job losses are made up of 30 volunteers and 12 compulsory – but Unite says that ten more workers have come forward for voluntary redundancy with similar skills, so there is no need for all the compulsory redundancies.
 
To reinforce the message, Unite will be arranging a demonstration at the Cola Cola site on the industrial park, Wakefield WF2 0XR between 17.00 -20.00 on Thursday 19 December.
Unite regional officer Sarah Mitchell said: “Throughout the consultation process, Unite has urged CCE to ‘do the right thing’ and allow those who volunteer for redundancy to go, thus ensuring there is no need for compulsory redundancies.
 
“Coca Cola has received sufficient volunteers to allow them to retain the right number of staff with the right skills, but it is still using this restructuring process  as an opportunity to make compulsory redundancies, and we believe this is just plain wrong.
 
“Unite recognises the important role that CCE plays in the local Wakefield economy – but what  it is proposing is too rigid and needs an urgent rethink. 
 
According to the company’s website, the Wakefield plant was established in 1989 and employs 466 employees. It is the largest soft drinks plant by volume in Europe.