WORKERS laid off at Grampian Country Foods in Winsford missed out on redundancy money because the factory hadn't been open for long enough.
About 70 production line workers and middle managers have lost their jobs as part of restructuring at the factory.
Steve Bennett, Usdaw area organiser for Mid Cheshire, said the move was necessary for the future of the plant but admitted: 'Unfortunately, because the plant hasn't been open for two years no one qualifies for redundancy and we couldn't negotiate a deal with Grampian because the company is cash-strapped.
'There were no more agency workers coming in once the decision to move to a one-shift system was taken. The company still envisages it will use agency staff but only to cope with volume peaks.'
The news is the latest twist in the tale of production on the site of one of Mid Cheshire's biggest employers.
The old Harris Quality Bacon Factory opened in the 1930s, but hit problems in the 1990s and was bought out in 1996 but closed in 2001 with the loss of 550 jobs.
That October, Grampian bought the site and promised to make it viable and employ about 400 workers. That number never materialised and there are now 180 left.
A spokesman blamed cuts on increased competition and over-capacity of meat products across the country.
