Some 165 staff have been laid off by the company in the past fortnight, mostly from its Great Witchingham units.
Now, a European-funded programme called Response to Redundancy is being put in place to help them with advice, training, CVs and job applications. A task force from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) is likely to be set up specifically to deal with the layoffs at Bernard Matthews. Reports the local paper
What will the E. Commission say?
Tuesday, 6 March 2007
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
The interim report into the outbreak of the deadly H5N1 virus shines a light on the horrifying reality of factory farming in Britain.
The investigation has involved officials from the Government's food and farming department Defra, the State Veterinary Service, the Food Standards Agency, the Health Protection Agency and the Meat Hygiene Service.
It is understood the MHS warned Bernard Matthews on several occasions about leaving the processing plant waste bins open.
The investigation has involved officials from the Government's food and farming department Defra, the State Veterinary Service, the Food Standards Agency, the Health Protection Agency and the Meat Hygiene Service.
It is understood the MHS warned Bernard Matthews on several occasions about leaving the processing plant waste bins open.
BERNARD MATTHEWS CORPORATE LIABILITY
The poultry firm Bernard Matthews could be prosecuted under food safety laws after government inspectors reported a series of biosecurity failings at a plant in Suffolk that saw the UK's first major outbreak of H5N1 bird flu. Times online
BERNARD MATTHEWS AND THE UK EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME
6000 companies with Climate Change Agreements. These negotiated agreements between business and Government set energy-related targets. Companies meeting their targets receive an 80% discount from the Climate Change Levy, a tax on the business use of energy. These companies can use the scheme either to buy allowances to meet their targets, or to sell any over-achievement of these targets. Anyone can open an account on the registry to buy and sell allowances.
BERNARD MATTHEWS PRODUCTS AND THE GROWTH IN ORGANIC SALES
"High profile scares such as the avian influenza outbreak, have contributed to consumer confidence levels. The growth in sales of organic, free range and higher welfare food is partly a response to this change in confidence. THE REPORT BY THE INSTITUTE OF GROCERY DISTRIBUTION
MEP RICHARD HOWITT SAID
Labour MEP Richard Howitt said a task force will be set up in a European redundancy initiative to assist the Suffolk workers with re-training and advice. Reports the local paper
BERNARD MATTHEWS: MORE LAY OFFS?
A company spokesperson said: “It is too early say how many more staff will have to be laid off but we are continuing to work with the relevant unions and inform staff of any updates on the situation. Reports the local paper
Saturday, 3 March 2007
"THE RENT IS 80 POUNDS A WEEK. HOW CAN WE BUY FOOD?"
Another laid off worker, who asked to be known as Mary, said: “You cannot imagine how hard it is for us. Everyone here needs the money to survive. We have to pay our rent. The rent is £80 a week. How can we buy food? Sometimes we don't have money to pay our bills. I pray. I don't eat steak, I eat bread.“I hope, and everyone hopes, this situation isn't going to go on very long. I hope next week I will have my work back. I hope someone will do something for us.” Reports the local paper
WORKERS ON LAY OFF AT BERNARD MATTHEWS WITHOUT ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE BILLS AND EAT
Like all the laid off workers, she gets £19.60 a day from the company for the first five days without work, plus a one-off £100, but after that the only money available is state benefits of as little as £57 a week. So far she has been living on her savings, but is down to the last £60.She said: “It is very hard. They have given me lay-off without a time, without knowing whether I will go back or not. I haven't paid my rent. All the money I have is not enough to pay the bills and eat. Reports the local paper
70% OF PEOPLE ON LAY OFF AT BERNARD MATTHEWS ARE PORTUGUESE
Around 70pc of the staff laid off by the turkey giant are Portuguese, and most had come to England specifically to work for Bernard Matthews. Now they are trying to support their families on state benefits of as little as £57 a week. Reports the local paper
Friday, 2 March 2007
BRITISH MEP: SUPPORT FOR WORKERS AT BERNARD MATTHEWS
“It appears derisory. Payments of £19.60 a day for five days doesn't seem a fair reward to committed workers, some of whom volunteered to clean out the Holton plant irrespective of the health risks real or perceived.” Says edp24
Thursday, 1 March 2007
THE POULTRY PRODUCTION INDUSTRY
The Role of the Intensive Poultry Production Industry in the
Spread of Avian Influenza, February 2007 Report
Spread of Avian Influenza, February 2007 Report
"DEREGULATED INDUSTRY"
The poultry trade is both the manifestation and driver of globalisation - much like the opium trade before it, says Felicity Lawrence
FINANCIAL COMPENSATION FOR BERNARD MATTHEWS
The Bernard Matthews poultry company is to receive £600,000 compensation for its slaughtered turkeys. Reports Sky News
Wednesday, 28 February 2007
WHAT DID THE BELFAST TELEGRAPH SAY?
... will Bernard Matthews ever recover from the outbreak of bird flu that threatens to devastate his £400m turkey empire? Asks the Belfast Telegraph
THE EUROPEAN FOOD SAFETY AUTHORITY
What does the Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority - EFSA - say? And
What is the EFSA's Key Strategy?
What is the EFSA's Key Strategy?
JOINT REPORT BY DEFRA, FSA AND THE HPA
What does the joint report from DEFRA, the Food Standards Agency and the Health Protection Agency say?
WHAT IS THE RISK FOR WORKERS AT BERNARD MATTHEWS?
Investigation Of Workers Involved In The Holton Avian Flu Outbreak, UK - a report by Medical News Today
BERNARD MATTHEWS LAYS OFF ANOTHER 38 WORKERS
38 more workers have been laid off by a firm forced to slaughter 160,000 turkeys after a bird flu outbreak. Report from the BBC and Norwish Evening News
EXCLUSION ZONES
Exclusion zones in Holton to remain in place until the second week of March, report from the East Anglian Daily Times
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
Bernard Matthews plant investigated for responsibility of bird flu spread, news report
Tuesday, 27 February 2007
PORTUGUESE WORKERS
How many Portuguese workers in these photos taken at Bernard Matthews?
What were the risks for workers gassing the turkeys?
What were the risks for workers gassing the turkeys?
HEALTH PROTECTION AGENCY SAYS...?
"... that the risk to food processing workers and other personnel working in around the food processing plant as being very low and as a result they didn’t require any antiviral treatment."
MEDICATION GIVEN ON 27TH OF FEBRUARY
Medication was made available today to employees at Bernard Matthews
COMPENSATION FOR COMPANY
Bernard Matthews to receive government compensation for the 159 000 turkeys slaughtered.
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