A UNION has accused a coffee company of plans to sack hundreds of staff only to re-employ them on 'inferior pay and conditions'.

Unite said it would strongly oppose the decision after talks with the management at JD Egberts Kenco adjourned today following the company serving notice to 'dismiss and reengage' its entire workforce in Banbury.

Unite, which has about 300 members at the Ruscote Avenue coffee processing plant that produces Kenco Tassimo and Millicano, pledged to take the workers’ case to the company’s most senior executives.

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Unite national officer for the food industry Joe Clarke said: “In nearly 30 years of union work I have never encountered such a negative approach from an employer to ignore the established consultation and negotiating procedures. It has come like a bolt out of the blue."

He added: “If the multinational company is having difficulties at Banbury, Unite is prepared to engage constructively to meet the challenges – but what we won’t put up with is strong-arm tactics which unilaterally destroys employment."

“We call on the company to withdraw its ‘sack and reemploy’ diktat and enter into meaningful negotiations.

“Meanwhile, Unite is lobbying for the support of European affiliated trade unions and global trade unions.

“We will not stand by and see our members’ livelihoods destroyed, and the collateral damage to the local Banbury economy and social fabric. The campaign now moves into top gear.”

Rob Williams, Banbury Plant Director, said: “We have been proudly making coffee at Banbury for 55 years and want to continue to do so.

“We can confirm that we are looking at modernising some of our working practices to keep the factory sustainable which benefits all of our employees. The proposed changes do not include a reduction in headcount."

He added: “We respect the right of our employees to have trade union representation which is why we have entered into consultation with union representatives on the proposed changes.

"We have updated our employees regularly on the legal process as required and have made clear that any proposed changes are subject to a full and thorough consultation. "We recognise that change is difficult but hope we can work together to reach agreement."