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12 September 2005

GMB today published at TUC Congress in Brighton the Morrisons internal secret document that reveals their plans to shut the distribution depots at Alyesford Kent, Bristol and Warrington in Cheshire. The document is dated 12th July 2005.

The document was leaked to the GMB by a concerned middle manager. At no time have the company acknowledged the existence of the document or revealed the plans to the workers or the unions. Two weeks ago GMB accused Morrisons of working to a secret plan to re-organise their depots. The company denied that they had any secret plans. Morrisons insisted that they would consult the unions and the workers when they had drawn up firm plans. The maps attached to the document show that Morrisons are working to a plan which when the new distribution depot opens later this month in Northamptonshire, that these three depots will close with the loss of 2500 jobs.

The Aylesford Depot at Beddow Way Aylesford Kent, delivers to Morrisons and ex Safeways stores all over the south east of England as far west as Southampton; up the east coast as far as Lowestoft and out to Reading in Berkshire. The Warrington Depot at Hardwick Grange Woolston Warrington Cheshire delivers to Morrisons stores in the North West and North Wales. There is a satellite depot at Winnick Quay in Warrington which may also be at risk.

Jude Brimble, GMB National Officer responsible for the distribution drivers and warehouse staff said, “The publication of this internal Morrison’s document dated 12th July 2005 proves that Morrison’s closure plans for the Alyesford, Warrington and Bristol depots are well advanced. The company has been deliberately misleading GMB and their employees for many months. The company has run a coach and horses through their legal obligations to consult with the workforce and the unions prior to drawing up plans, which will lead to large-scale redundancies. The company will have to pay a very high price for taking their workforce for granted and completely losing their trust.

The result of the strike ballot on the failure to consult will be known on Thursday (15th September) and these secret plans, I feel, will ensure a YES vote. It cannot be long before the shelves in Morrisons supermarkets are empty.”