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SPD's takeover opposed
Page 7
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A TRADES UNION backlash looks possible if the National Freight Consortium goes ahead with its tentative plans to buy the SPD distribution group from Unilever (CM, September 22).
Although no announcement on the two parties' intentions is expected before next month, union sources suggest that the 2,000 Transport and General Workers Union members at the company will try to block the move.
They are understood to be unhappy about their prospects in an NFC-owned SPD as they suspect that existing NFC companies like British Road Services would dominate any activity undertaken by their company.
One source said the drivers would "seek to oppose the takeover by any means possible", hinting that a strike was not being ruled out.
A Unilever spokesman told CM that a meeting has been arranged with TGWU haulage secretary Jack Ashwell to discuss members' views.