7:00pm Wednesday 17th March 2010
WORKERS at tea firm Twinings started voting today on whether to launch a campaign of industrial action in protest at plans to cut hundreds of jobs.
Members of the shopworkers' union Usdaw are being balloted over plans by Associated British Foods to close a factory in North Shields and cut jobs at Andover in Hampshire.
Union official Mike Parsonage said: ''Twinings is a profitable UK manufacturing company, which plans to move its production to Poland to take advantage of cheap labour costs.
''For over four months Usdaw has sought to change the company's plans to no avail. This iconic British manufacturer has betrayed a loyal and efficient workforce. We have no option other than to fight for these jobs by taking industrial action.
''The UK can ill afford to lose quality and profitable manufacturing jobs. These companies have loyalty to nothing other than greed.''
The ballot result is expected at the end of the month.
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