Workers at a crisis-hit north-east fish factory are no closer to learning their fate after a major announcement was postponed.
Union representatives for staff at the Young’s Seafood plant in Fraserburgh said bosses from the firm were due to reveal whether the plant would close today.
But the announcement – which follows a meeting of the Grimsby firm’s board last week – has been delayed until next week.
“Due to the unavoidable postponement of internal meetings at Young’s Seafood Limited, we have had to reschedule a meeting with on-site staff,” a spokesman for the company said.
He added that senior officials would reschedule the meeting and consult with employees facing redundancy.
More than 900 jobs are under threat at the Fraserburgh factory after the seafood giant lost a major supermarket contract earlier this year.
Bosses are considering whether to close the factory, or to keep it open with a significantly reduced staff of 250.
Workers expecting a formal announcement today reacted angrily to the postponement, and even threatened an unofficial strike.
One employee said: “They’ve told us the meeting’s been pushed back due to unforeseen circumstances.
“They can’t do this – they’re playing with our livelihoods. That’s why we’re walking out.”
The industrial action, however, did not materialise.
Alex Moonan, a representative from the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, said that although the stakeholder meeting due to take place today had been cancelled, no formal union action was planned.
Last night, local SNP MP Eilidh Whiteford said every effort was being made to preserve jobs.
“The Scottish Government has left no stone unturned in its efforts to safeguard jobs in Fraserburgh, and has made clear it is willing to match any aid package that may have been offered to Grimsby, provided it is within the law,” she said.
Ms Whiteford added that there were “good market opportunities” for the Watermill Road factory to take on new contracts.
Her comments follow concerns that a UK Government deal on offer to Young’s Grimsby operations could mean the majority of the Fraserburgh jobs being axed.
Ms Whiteford and the Scottish Government are seeking advice about the legality of such an offer under EU state aid legislation.