A working party has been set up to look at the books of Field''s Thatcham plant and discuss the options available following the announcement of its planned closure.


GPMU national officer Mike Griffiths also revealed that members of the workforce had requested a meeting with the main board members of Field to put their case in person.
Griffiths said: "What we told the management at the meeting was that we are not accepting the closure as it stands."


He added: "We have asked for a statement to be issued by the company, indicating the investments that have been made and the agreements that the workforce have adhered to, to hopefully make the plant more attractive to a potential buyer."


The preferred outcome agreed at the meeting, which was also attended by the CMS and AEEU employee unions, was a solution to keep the factory open. A sub-committee has been formed and will report back at the next meeting on 13 October.


Story by Andy Scott