MONMOUTH MP David Davies has called for a joint meeting with the union Amicus and the head of the civil service at the Welsh Assembly to discuss a compensation package for the 400 workers made redundant by Cranberry Foods in Abergavenny.
In the absence of a Welsh Assembly Government, with the political parties still deciding how to form the next administration following the recent elections, Mr Davies has written to the Assembly’s Permanent Secretary in a bid to hold urgent talks.
“I have no choice but to contact the head of the civil service as there are currently no Ministers for me to discuss this very important and urgent matter with,” said Mr Davies.
“We entered the election period with Ministers saying no statement would be made in the run up to 3rd May, but there was plenty of time to ensure the necessary support was put in place for those affected between the original announcement by Cranberry Foods and the period of purdah leading up to the election.
“Worried workers are desperate and all I have been given is vague promises from the Assembly that officials are talking with other officials. It is simply not good enough.
“If they were British steelworkers, the Assembly would be jumping through hoops to help them. When thousands of steelworkers in Newport and Ebbw Vale were axed by Corus, multi-million pound aid packages were announced almost immediately and I fail to understand why similar action is not being taken now. Unfortunately, this is just another example of Monmouthshire being viewed as an affluent county.”