Unite regional officer Steve Harley said: “Unite is asking for an urgent meeting with the management of Bernard Matthews to clarify the state of play regarding the future ownership of the company”.
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The union gave a “cautious” welcome to the news, but said “searching questions” would be asked of the buyer.
There was speculation over the future of Bernard Matthews over the summer after Rutland Partners appointed PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to look for possible buyers.
Deloitte, the administrator, is understood to have struck a deal preserving all 2,000 jobs at the Norfolk-based company. We have a proven track record in turning around businesses and we aim to make Bernard Matthews great again.
“In the event of an insolvency event at a company with an eligible pension scheme, members can be reassured that we are there to protect them”.
“This has been a hard and testing time for the business, but one which should now lead to a bright new future under the ownership of Mr Boparan”, Mr Jamieson added.
Boparan is likely to acquire the turkey firm imminently, but will not take on the liabilities of the pension scheme.
“We can not have firms changing ownership at the price of pensions being dumped with the Pension Protection Fund – such dumping involves promises being broken, and the cuts in benefit that result”.
A spokesman for The Pensions Regulator said: “We are aware of the situation at Bernard Matthews and are in contact with the trustees and the PPF, but we can not comment further at this stage”.
Last week, national media reports suggested that a deal with 2 Sisters was close to being done, but Bernard Matthews’ £16.7m pension deficit was proving a stumbling block.
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That means current and former employees seeing their retirement payments cut as the pension scheme passes into the hands of the Pension Protection Fund (PPF (Shenzhen: 300258.SZ – news) ) lifeboat. Call business editor Mark Shields in confidence on 01603 772426.
