Turkey producer in the UK feeling the pinch after bird flu outbreak

Feb 19 2007

The turkey producer in the UK at the centre of the recent bird flu outbreak is feeling the pinch.

As many as 130 workers at Europe's largest turkey producer Bernard Matthews will lose their jobs because of the slump in sales following the bird flu outbreak.

The company has been in talks with the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) which represents the workers and has announced that a 40 percent drop in sales has resulted in the company laying off 130 employees with effect from tomorrow, Tuesday February 20th.

The company says the fate of another 400-500 employees will be dependent on future sales and further layoffs cannot be ruled out.

The TGWU is calling for the government to help compensate the workers in the same way the Spanish and Italian did following similar outbreaks.

Earlier this month an outbreak of the H5N1 strain of bird flu on it's plant in Suffolk forced the company to slaughter 160,000 turkeys.

Company founder Bernard Matthews has apologised for the scare, but maintains the outbreak was not the fault of his company.

The TGWU says the 130 workers being laid will receive a one off payment of £100 each from the company as well as some statutory payments.