Kraft cutting Cadbury jobs with 'indecent haste,' says union

Union leaders attacked Kraft today for moving too quickly to cut jobs at Cadbury, which it bought in January.

Up to 150 jobs are threatened at the chocolate company's offices in Uxbridge and Bournville in Birmingham.

Jennie Formby, national office of Unite, said the American food giant needed longer to determine how many staff it needed.

"Kraft is moving with indecent haste to cut jobs. Despite stating that the company would take 45 days to gain a clearer idea of their management and staff structures for the combined business, they have swung the axe before that deadline has been passed.

"This is yet another broken promise from Kraft. It is causing tremendous anxiety among the 6,000-plus workforce at Cadbury, as well as for their colleagues at Kraft's UK plant. No worker now feels safe.

"Given Kraft's huge debt and the savings they promised to make on purchase of Cadbury, our real fear is that more job cuts are to come.

"Until they come clean on their plans - which they kept under wraps from even the UK Government during the takeover process - we do not know what Kraft plans for its UK business."

A spokesman for Cadbury said of the job cuts: "It could be up to 150, it could be less as Kraft has said it wants to identify opportunities to retain skilled Cadbury people."

Kraft came under fire last month when it changed its mind over keeping open a Cadbury factory near Bristol, which will close with the loss of hundreds of jobs.

The Business Select Committee will question Kraft executives this month on the company's future plans.