YORK Central MP Rachael Maskell says Nestlé's job loss announcement will ‘come as an immense shock’ to workers and ‘leave a bitter taste in the mouths of people across York.’

She said she would work with the company and trade unions to secure the jobs, and said the announcement followed a continual trend of cutting good quality jobs in exchange for increasing automation and outsourcing of work abroad.

She claimed the decline of jobs across the business was set against an upturn in profits and after employees had been ‘there for the company’ throughout the last difficult year.

She said:“Investment in infrastructure is always welcome, but slashing jobs instead of redeploying people elsewhere in the business is a waste of talent.

“ Long gone are the days when Rowntree’s sought to be the mainstay of manufacturing in the city, providing economic and social purpose.

“Nestle today are more interested in creaming off a profit for its hedge fund managers than supporting workers and their families.

“I call on Nestle to work closely with the GMB and Unite, the organised trade unions at Nestle, to find a solution to this jobs cull.

“Now is an opportunity to invest in manufacturing, food science and future opportunities to bring benefit to the company, workers and the city.

“Having met with the company this morning, I have vowed that I will do everything within my power to see jobs sustained in York, and for the company to rethink its decision.”