Workers at the Mayr-Melnhof Packaging (MMP) plant in Bootle, near Liverpool, are maintaining pickets of the factory after bosses locked them out during a dispute over redundancies.
Managers at the plant responded to an official strike over job losses by locking out the entire workforce. The plant’s closure has already hit MMP’s customer’s supply chains, with production of Kellogg’s flagship brand Cornflakes reportedly suffering due to the lack of packaging production.
Unite leader Len McCluskey joined the picket line, saying he was here to demonstrate solidarity and to bring the full support of the Unite executive and send a clear message that they, the company, better open these gates, let our members back in and then sit down with us and reach a proper settlement.
“Otherwise this dispute will only continue here and will also spread and impact right across Europe because we have made contact with our European colleagues and received solidarity and support from them.”
Messages of support can be emailed to p-potter1@sky.com