MP demands help for threatened Del Monte staff (From York Press)

MP demands help for threatened Del Monte staff

5:20pm Wednesday 15th February 2012 in News By Dan Bean and Julie Hayes

A YORK MP has urged Del Monte to do its best to look after 140 employees facing redundancy at its York site.

Julian Sturdy, MP for York Outer, said the news that 140 jobs were under threat at the Shipton Road factory, which makes salads and coleslaws for retailers, was “disappointing”.

He said: “Any loss of jobs at an employment site such as that in and around the city of York is very disappointing.

“I hope the company will do all it can to look after the current employees to the best of its ability.”

As The Press revealed last night, union leaders say the closure of the factory now looks inevitable following talks with management. Staff have been told it will probably close on April 23.

The firm is understood to have lost a contract with Morrisons, and although it is pursuing new business with Asda, the new business may still not make it viable.

Mr Sturdy added: “I would very much hope that the site could be potentially retained as a future employment site and somebody else might take it on and retain the jobs at the same site.”

Joe Watt, City of York councillor for Skelton, Skelton, Rawcliffe & Clifton Without, said unemployment was “a personal disaster” for anyone who lost their job.

He said: “I am concerned that a local source of employment is being lost, and if the situation is irretrievable I would hope another organisation could come in and pick up from there with fresh employment.”

One worker at the factory told The Press: “It would be a crying shame if it were to close, impacting a lot of people from suppliers to colleagues.”

Del Monte has consistently declined to comment on the closure.