Hundreds cram into Co-op jobs showdown

Wednesday 19 November 2014

More than 400 people filled the Radisson Hotel at a special meeting to discuss plans by the CI Co-op to close its local warehouse, with the loss of up to 58 jobs. The media were prevented from attending last night's meeting, but the atmosphere inside was described as intense.

Co-op President, the former Senator Ben Shenton opened the meeting by setting out the Society's case for the move, which was followed by questions from the audience, and finally two votes: firstly, should the CI warehouses close or not and secondly, should there be a vote of no confidence if the first vote vote keeps them open? The results of those votes will be published after a second meeting in Guernsey tonight.

The Society wants to move its food warehouse to Andover in Hampshire, which it says will save more than a million pounds a year. It has promised to charter a cargo plane just to make sure food can still get into its stores when the weather stops the boats from sailing.

That decision prompted an announcement from another food supplier, Easenmyne, who said it would have a knock-on effect on its business, meaning the loss of a further 40-50 jobs.

The Co-op's plan has been strongly opposed by a group of islanders, who got the 50 signatures they needed to force a special meeting of co-op shareholders in Jersey, and one in Guernsey. 

Their cause has been jumped on by the Island's only political party, Reform Jersey, who attended the meeting last night and tweeted:

"Absolutely packed here at the Radisson for Co-op shareholders meeting. Hope they are as concerned about jobs and food security as we are."