Halls factory task force to meet again

THE task force charged with trying to save the closure-threatened Hall’s of Broxburn meat factory will meet again tomorrow.

Lawrence Wason, Scottish divisional officer for Usdaw, the biggest union at the plant, said owner Vion had been working closely with the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) on a reorganisation of the production line to try to reduce current losses.

He said: “The cost savings that could be put into practice would not clear the £500,000 a week they are losing, but they could hopefully greatly reduce the losses.

“We’re expecting an update from SMAS and the employer on how they see that working and what they think the future holds. Our position is still that if we can’t safeguard all the jobs then we try to ensure we safeguard as many as possible.”

The task force includes the company, unions, government agencies and local politicians.