Cadbury Protest

Workers from Cadbury are due to stage a protest as part of a campaign to safeguard jobs in the wake of the planned takeover of the chocolate-maker by US giant Kraft.

Unite said members of the public will join the demonstration in Birmingham in an attempt to stop Kraft changing the 200-year-old company "beyond recognition" after the takeover is completed next week.

The union said Kraft must give assurances that the interests of the workforce will not be swept aside and that the quality of products will be safeguarded.

Cadbury workers will protest close to the Cadbury factory in Bournville and will hold up placards which say "don't sell us out".
Unite national officer Jennie Formby said: "Our members and their friends across the Midlands deserve a voice in this takeover. They are angry that to date they have been forced to look on from the sidelines as the big money players carve up their company.

"Our protest is intended to send a clear message to Cadbury shareholders - don't sell Cadbury out.
"Cheese and chocolate must not be a recipe for disaster for Cadbury. The livelihoods of thousands of workers and the future of a great UK manufacturer will be decided in the next week.

"We urge Cadbury shareholders, who now have the fate of the company in their hands, to think very carefully about Kraft's revised offer and ask themselves is it in the best interests of either business."