263 jobs face axe at Twinings North Shields tea factory

Nov 3 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

HUNDREDS of Tyneside jobs are set to be axed as tea-maker Twinings looks to move production to Poland.

The company’s 263 staff in North Shields have been told they are likely to lose their livelihoods after company bosses decided to refocus on the Eastern European and global markets.

Workers were yesterday called to a meeting in Gosforth to be told that Twinings could potentially close the entire site by September 2011, with just a handful of jobs kept at another factory in Andover, Hampshire.

Workers in North Shields repackage tea and sell it abroad, but company bosses insist the realities of their business model leave them with no choice but to make changes.

The firm is growing its markets in Eastern Europe and South East Asia and said it does not make economic sense to import tea many thousands of miles.

But last night union bosses said the North Shields factory was “very productive” and accused company management of putting profit before job security.

Usdaw union representative Jayne Shotton said the company was opening a new factory in Poland which would take jobs from Tyneside.

Ms Shotton said: “Our jobs are going to Poland and China, that’s what we know.

“It is extremely disappointing that a company which proudly calls itself Twinings of London is now moving work to Poland.

“We will be taking steps to try and fight this, because this is a very productive workforce that does not deserve to be pushed aside.”

With no factory yet built for the company in Poland bosses may yet benefit from various European grant schemes.