WORKERS made redundant by Horizon Biscuits in Moreton are considering taking the company to an industrial tribunal.

The staff were working at the Tulip International meat-processing plant at the Horizon Biscuits site, Pasture Road, Moreton - but remained employees of Horizon Biscuits, a division of Premier Brands.

When the Tulip plant moved to Bromborough, 210 of the 257 staff moved with them and became Tulip employees. Horizon recently announced that the remaining 47 staff would be made redundant.

Former Horizon worker Steven Hayes said: "We were told by (Horizon Personnel Director) Paul Hurst that we would be absorbed into the company if we decided not to move with Tulip. We were then given four days' notice of our redundancy when we stayed at Horizon.

"Some have taken voluntary redundancy and a couple have part-time work with the company, but the rest of us have been let go. I think it is a total disgrace."

Peter Lunt is in a similar position. "I am disgusted and in shock. We were told by the MD that there would be jobs for all of us at Premier Brands," he said.

Discussions with Transport and General Workers' Union representatives are underway regarding referral to an industrial tribunal.

A statement from Horizon Biscuits reads: "Discussions with the union have been taking place since the original announcement of the closure of Tulip operation in 1997. We are surprised by the union's reaction as we have been consulting on the issue of the Tulip closure for 18 months and the fact that we are still discussing the issue."

Horizon Personnel Director Paul Hurst added: "This has been an extremely difficult decision and not one we have made lightly. Faced with Tulip's decision to move its meat-processing and packaging activities from Moreton to nearby Bromborough, we have had to respond strategically as a commercial operation."

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