Twinings jobs meeting

Twinings workers, Usdaw members and supporters are holding a public meeting in Andover to protest at the threat to 400 jobs in Andover and North Shields. The meeting aims to build on the support received since the announcement made to move production to Poland and China.

"There is growing anger out there that a highly profitable company should opt to exploit cheap labour in order to make even bigger profits at the expense of a loyal, productive and award-winning workforce," said meeting organiser Derek Kotz.

As the general election gets closer, workers gain 'sympathy' for their plight but none of the main parties puts forward a programme to defend jobs. Workers at Twinings and their unions, with wider solidarity from other workers, must organise a mass campaign, including industrial action if necessary, to reverse Twinings' plans. Twinings workers have already received local support from Unite, Unison, RMT, PCS and FBU. The basis exists to ensure these jobs are protected if a fighting campaign is built.

The Socialist Party calls for the nationalisation of industries that make redundancies to boost their profits, or that insist on redundancies for other reasons. Those industries could then be run under workers' control and management to guarantee jobs and a future.

Nick Chaffey

• Public meeting, Tuesday 19 January, 7.30pm, Andover Guildhall, High St, Andover. Speakers from: Usdaw Andover and North Shields.

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