News

The GMB union claims the "writing is on the wall" for almost 900 jobs at Wincanton's two distribution centres at Gloucester and Trafford Park.

Eddie Gaudie, GMB organiser, who represents members working at the Trafford Park site, met with Wincanton management earlier this week (12 January), but says the company appears determined to close down the sites with the loss of 415 people at  Trafford and 450 in Gloucester.

"The writing is on the wall, the feeling we are getting is that Wincanton just wants to close the two sites. However, we are going to fight this all the way and attempt to save these jobs," he says.

In November, Wincanton revealed it would form a chilled logistics company with Culina Logistics - 80% owned by Culina and 20% by Wincanton.

Wincanton says it wants to integrate volumes from its sites at Gloucester and Trafford Park sites into the Culina network, with effect from early April.

Gaudie claims contracts at the depots under threat may be moved to Culina operations in Stafford and Avonmouth.

"We are still arguing that Trafford Park is viable and should be kept open."

A spokesman for USDAW, which represents workers at the Gloucester depot, says the union is currently seeking talks with Wincanton over the issue.

A Wincanton spokesman says: "Wincanton  has been working with Culina to review the shape of the enlarged chilled business and to establish the appropriate operational structure in order to provide the best service to its customers. Should the proposed migration of volumes go ahead, it is likely that both sites will close."