A GPMU official has slammed Field Groups decision to close its Thatcham folding carton plant as a "stab in the back for the workforce".


National officer Mike Griffiths said most of the Berkshire plants staff were "shocked and angry" at the move, which could lead to up to 175 job losses.


The company and union negotiators were due to meet as PrintWeek went to press. Griffiths said: "As far as I am concerned there is a sense of betrayal at the earlier commitments made by the workforce."


Earlier this year, Field spent 800,000 after deciding to hang on to the plant, despite making 90 staff redundant.


Field marketing service manager Bob Houghton claimed: "Weve done everything we can to keep this plant open, but a large leading food cereal manufacturer recently decided to place its contract elsewhere, which was effectively the last nail in the coffin."


A "small number" of employees will be moved to other Field sites. The proposed closure would take place over the next few months, with some production transferred to other UK sites.


Griffiths said that after the 90 redundancies, staff were told if they committed themselves to a new deal and working contract, the company would commit itself to the plant. "Now it appears they have gone back on their word."


"One of the questions we are keen to press is whether they lost the contract or withdrew from negotiations as a result of not being prepared to provide a long-term commitment to it." He intimated that the contract could be one of several names including Cereal Partners, which was unavailable for comment.


Field Packaging Systems is not affected, but will ultimately be relocated to a new site close to the Thatcham unit.


The news came shortly after Fields parent, Chesapeake, issued a statement regarding the recent volatility in its trading volume and stock price, saying that it maintained "a positive outlook for all our business segments".


Story by Andy Scott