Banham cuts wages to ease pressure

Norfolk poultry processor Banham Poultry has revealed that workers have agreed to take a pay cut to aid the company through the current difficult economic times.

Based in Attleborough, Banham employs 600 staff and supplies chickens to supermarkets nationwide. The new pay settlement, which will see a temporary reduction in wages for some workers, followed a 90-day consultation period.

“The purpose of the consultation process was and remains to explore all possible opportunities of improving efficiencies within the business against the backdrop of a very competitive poultry market within the UK that is controlled by the major supermarkets and their desire to reduce their costs and prices to consumers,” said a statement.

“Given such a difficult economic climate, and in order to secure jobs and group viability going forward, after various meetings with our employee representatives throughout an extremely constructive consultation period, it was agreed to make temporary changes to staff benefits and packages.

“One of these changes did include a reduction in pay for some staff, and the directors are extremely grateful and indebted to our loyal staff who are pulling in the same direction with us to try and help the financial difficulties faced by the group at this time.”