Rab Donnelly – Usdaw Area Organiser says: “Since the initial announcement we have been in extensive consultation meetings with the company, looking at ways to avoid a closure.  With great sadness for the workers on the site, their families and the wider community, this proved not to be possible and General Mills have today announced that the closure of the Berwick factory will go ahead. This has been an extremely difficult process for all concerned and is devastating news for the staff.”

Notes for editors:

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 440,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 17% in the last five years and by nearly a third in the last decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the Union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.

For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion