TESCO JOB LOSSES SPECIAL REPORT - Middlewich shoppers boycott store following redundancies (1/6) (From Middlewich Guardian)

TESCO JOB LOSSES SPECIAL REPORT - Middlewich shoppers boycott store following redundancies (1/6)

5:31pm Thursday 11th March 2010

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FURIOUS workers and their supporters are boycotting Tesco supermarkets after massive job losses were announced in Middlewich.

More than 50 per cent of people who voted in a Guardian poll said they would shop elsewhere in protest at the planned closure of Tesco’s distribution centre and trunking station.

A 90-day consultation with unions began on Monday, March 1, over the future of the Pochin Way site, which is expected to shut in June, with a loss of 426 Tesco jobs.

Further ancillary and management posts will bring the total job losses to around 600 people.

A father-of-one, who works in the warehouse, said: “It’s a shock but there’s nothing you can do.

“There is quite low morale at the moment. People are stunned.”

The closure plans are a particularly bitter blow for Tesco employees as, last month, a supermarket spokesman said that Middlewich jobs were safe following the closure of the distribution centre in Middleton.

In February, spokesman Juliette Bishop said: “Our decision to relocate our Middleton distribution centre's operation to a new distribution centre in Widnes, does not affect our distribution centre in Middlewich."

The warehouse worker, who did not wish to be named, added: “Tesco comes across as a company that cares for employees.

“But then they release a statement saying our jobs are safe and within five days we were told the site is closing.

“Their slogan is ‘Every Little Helps’ but at the moment very little helps.”

Middlewich mayor Pam Farrell told the Guardian she is disappointed in Tesco.

She said: “I think it’s awful because Tesco more or less guaranteed their jobs were going to be safe.

“We’re not really flushed with jobs in Middlewich. Many of these people have husbands, wives and children to support.”

Tesco has insisted that Middlewich is no longer the right location for a depot and is moving to larger distribution centre in Goole, 104 miles away.

This is despite the company having three stores in the town and planning permission to build a superstore, which could unlock investment of up to £25million, on land south of Wheelock Street.

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