PROTESTS are being planned at Asda stores in Bangor and Anglesey after the company pulled out of a contract with a meat processing firm, putting 350 jobs at risk.
The Unite union urged members to “consider their custom” with ASDA after it halted its lamb contract with Vion’s Welsh Country Foods plant in Gaerwen.
Anglesey Council chiefs will discuss the pull out with Vion, FUW, Careers Wales, Unite, Coleg Menai on Monday.
Unite blasted Asda after a meeting yesterday (Thursday, January 17) for only committing to respond in writing within two weeks .
Unite Wales secretary Andy Rixhards said: “As the Asda hierarchy dithers on a decision, 350 workers and their families on Anglesey are being forced to face the fear of ongoing uncertainty about their future employment.”
“I would urge the Asda management to quickly wake up to the reality of their earlier decision and do to the right thing and overturn it with immediate effect.”
Dutch-owned Vion UK, which employs 8,000 staff at 30 facilities across the UK, has launched a 90-day consultation process with unions and the workforce on the Isle of Anglesey.
Unite Wales’ north west regional officer Paddy McNaught stressed members were set to take further action.
He added: “Asda’s lack of action to overturn their earlier decision is very disappointing news for both our members at Welsh Country Foods and the community of Anglesey. ]
“This demonstrates all too well the cavalier attitude large supermarkets seem to have when it comes to the retail food industry.
“The continued failure of Asda management to come to the decent decision will see us look to step up the pressure by calling on our members, their families and the farming community to begin a campaign of action at Asda stores across the UK."