Betrayal
The British people are passionately proud and protective of their great British history. There isn't another industry that is totally British, profitable, steeped in history and touches the lives of the British public.
That takes some beating. Cadburys has courted the British public for 280 years (formerly Fry's) and almost everyone in Great Britain eats Cadburys chocolate. This is proven by the fact that 95% of all chocolate produced at the Keynsham factory is consumed by you, the British public.
The Cadbury factory in Keynsham stands in its own large grounds and although 80% is classed as flood plain, was seen by the Cadbury Board, if sold for a small amount of housing development on the higher ground, to generate a significant amount of money which could then be injected for modernisation into the Keynsham factory. Positive talks were held between Cadburys, the Town Council and Bath and North East Somerset Council.
But, three weeks after these meetings Cadburys dropped the bomb shell of closing Keynsham and relocating production 1,200 miles away to Poland. Pressurised by a billionaire American agitator share holder from Trian Investments, accompanied by Qatar Sovereign Wealth Funds, to produce even greater profits, Cadburys took a decision to raise the whole Keynsham factory to the ground giving the certain shareholders a short sharp burst of money through the sale of ALL the land for housing.
At the same time Cadburys would exploit Polish workers by relocating the factory to Poland.
Directly after the relocation to Poland and Keynsham factory closure announcement on 3rd October 2007 the Unions joined together with the local community, religious groups, local councils and politicians along with Cadburys at Marlbrook, Chirk and Bournville. Off on the March they went, literally. On Sat 8th December over 1,000 people walked through the town of Keynsham to show their solidarity in the keeping of Cadburys in Keynsham. It was the worst weather for years which meant the turn out was no where near the true amount of many thousands who had shown their anger at the betrayal.
The Keynsham Town Council and Bath and North East Somerset Council were joined by Bristol City Council and South West Gloucestershire Council in a unanimous vote to KEEP CADBURYS IN KEYNSHAM.
On 3rd December outside Bournville coach loads of Keynsham factory supporters met with Bournville employees, again to show solidarity.
Two weeks later, joining together again, ‘alternative' Christmas carols were sung at Bournville.
A few days later, outside Cadbury Head Office London, the by now very popular ‘alternative' Christmas carols were again sung. Roger Moore, on passing, got out of his car, took centre stage and joined in. If it's good enough for 007..... Over the course of two weeks a paper petition was signed by 8,200 local people to KEEP CADBURYS IN KEYNSHAM.
In February 2008, 242 against 143 employees of the Keynsham factory voted to discontinue with the campaign as to do so would damage their redundancy packages.
The campaign however continued through its strong arm of the community. The 143 employees who voted to keep the campaign on the move and save their jobs and jobs for future generations had then to rely on the community based campaign. There was a strong presence at the Cadbury AGM in London in April both inside and out highlighting the wide range of damages that will occur if Cadbury's go ahead with the relocation of production 1,200 miles away to Poland.
Numerous letters have been sent to politicians, groups of political businesses, councils, Cadbury shareholders etc.
3rd October 2008, exactly one year on from the announcement of closure the SAVE CADBURYS web site was launched.
Now is the time to ‘go national' and ‘international' via the internet to help the British public become aware of the huge betrayal to the British consumer with the relocation of production of some of your favourite bars:-
Crunchie, Double Decker, Fry's Crème, Chomp, Fudge, Mini Eggs, Picnic, Fry's Turkish Delight, Freddos, Caramel and Curly Wurly'
Cadburys think the British public are good enough to eat it, but not good enough to produce it.
You, your family and friends can help by signing the petition today.
Say NO to Poland. Say YES to Keep a Cadbury factory in KEYNSHAM, GREAT BRITAIN
