UNION leaders were today calling for company takeover laws to be strengthened in the wake of the sale of Cadbury’s to US food giant Kraft. The controversial takeover was being examined by MPs on the Business Select Committee, who are due to question executives from both firms as well as officials from the Unite union. Unite has warned the multi-billion-pound takeover has left a question mark over the future of thousands of Cadbury’s workers, especially as the US changed its mind about keeping open the Somerdale factory near Bath. Kraft had said it would keep the plant open, but later changed its mind, saying it will close after all, with the loss of 400 jobs. Jack Dromey, Unite’s deputy general secretary, who was to give evidence to the committee today, was to call for a “Cadbury’s Law” aimed at preventing hostile takeovers of British companies which are not in the public interest.Read
