Austrian multi-national packaging firm Mayr-Melnhof Packaging (MMP) in Liverpool has closed its Bootle factory, which produces the carton packaging for well known cereal brands, following industrial action by workers.
The dispute over 49 redundancies. Unite union representing the 149 workers at the site, says that the company has refused to negotiate openly and fairly, and unfairly selected 49 people for redundancy, forcing workers into accepting poorer redundancy terms. The remaining 100 workers have all now received letters of dismissal and factory has been closed.
The company said the job losses followed a series of redundancies earlier this year and previous redundancies in 2008 and 2010.
MMP spokesman Stephan Sweerts-Sporck said: "Over recent years, the company - together with the employee representatives - has tried very hard to protect as many jobs as possible for as long as possible.
"Ultimately however we have had to acknowledge the economic reality and the importance of meeting customer demand."
