Transport workers slam fleet sale
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/ Britain's largest refrigerated vehicle fleet, operated by Birds Eye Walls, is to be sold to an independent distribution company.
Birds Eye management has decided that savings can be made in its distribution operations by sub-contracting to an independent distribution specialist. The company is known to be negotiating with the National Freight Consortium, Christian Salvesen and Hays Distribution Services about the contract.
Earlier this year, Birds Eye Walls sub-contracted its trunking operations to BRS Western. The move was severely criticised by the Transport and General Workers
Union (TGWU), which claimed that it resulted in a dramatic fall in wage levels and pension benefits (CM, April 26).
The union is again angry that Birds Eye Walls has decided to contract out the rest of its transport operations. Regional officer Joe Elliott says: "Birds Eye Walls is treating our people like pawns for profit. We don't think it is a responsible way of treating people who have achieved a great deal of success in terms of efficiency for the company."