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Mushroom farm jobs set for axe Matthew James News Editor
matthew@the-resident.co.uk
About 40 jobs are likely to be lost after a controversial “restructuring exercise” at one of Horsham district’s biggest employers. Monaghan Mushrooms said it was optimistic of retaining 90 per cent of the 400 jobs at its site in Thakeham, but a spokesman for the GMB union described the threat to any jobs there as “despicable”. The company said in a statement to The Resident yesterday (Thursday): “The takeover of Thakeham Mushrooms Ltd by the Monaghan Mushrooms group was approved by the Of�ice of Fair Trading in December 2011. “The company (previously known as Sussex Mushrooms Ltd) was rescued by the Monaghan Mushrooms group from administration in July 2011. It had been suffering from a lack of investment over many years and incurring signi�icant operating losses. “In June/July 2011, the employees had not been paid wages for eight weeks and the future of all 400 jobs was in doubt. The Monaghan Mushrooms group ensured that the arrears of wages were paid and are committed to protecting as many jobs as possible on the site. “We are engaged in a restructuring exercise with the objective of reducing the operating losses and securing the majority
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of the 400 jobs at the Thakeham site. “At-risk letters were issued as the �irst part of the legal consultation process and our obligations to inform and communicate with employees. “The �irst phase of these consultations involves discussions on voluntary redundancy. We are optimistic that the majority of the reduction in numbers will be achieved by agreement and that we can protect 90 per cent of jobs on site.
decision to put ‘allThethese jobs at risk is a despicable act
’
“We are involved in extensive discussions and consultation with our employees through our works councils. “The Monaghan Mushrooms group is committed to the long-term future of
Thakeham Mushrooms Ltd, which will include a signi�icant investment programme over the next �ive years to develop the �inest mushroom facility in Europe. “We will continue to communicate with our employees to keep them informed of the restructuring plans and encourage them to work with us to build a successful future.” Charles Harrity, regional organiser for the GMB, said: “The decision to issue atrisk notice of redundancy looks like the worst kind of short-term business planning. “This is especially true when one considers that at the time of the very recent takeover there was a business plan in place which included a redevelopment of part of the site. “The decision to put all these jobs at Thakeham Mushrooms at risk is a despicable act. Has this site been acquired for its development potential rather than to sustain jobs? I sincerely hope these jobs can be secured.” Continued on Page 5
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