A MAJOR food supplier has won out following two employment tribunal claims over its 2018 move to Bury.

Bosses at Cranswick Continental foods relocated production facilities from Trafford Park to a site in Roach Bank Road last spring.

Five hundred or so employees transferred across Greater Manchester to the new £27million facility but five or six staff refused to switch.

And two such cases, arguing either unfair or constructive dismissal as a result of the move, reached employment tribunal hearings in Manchester.

Michael Glynn, a former quality assurance operative on the night shift at Cranswick, claimed he had effectively dismissed when operations being ceased in Trafford park.

He insisted because he did not drive and it would take up to two hours via public transport to reach the new site, this was unfair.

Mr Glynn also said he had a medical condition which ruled out using public transport for extended periods.

But counsel for Cranswick told the hearing employees had a mobility clause in their contracts, requiring them to move, for business reasons, if given appropriate notice.

An offer was also made to increase salaries by 75p per hour and car sharing was promoted. A temporary bus service was also offered for night shift workers.

The tribunal heard the firm had told staff in January 2017 they were looking to move so staff should have been aware of the prospect.

Dismissing Mr Glynn’s claims, Employment Judge Jane Porter said: “(Cranswick) gave the entire workforce, including the claimant, plenty of notice of the move, and entered into extensive consultation with the workforce.”

Another claim, by Mr T Waiworko, who had worked there since 2004, was rejected on similar grounds earlier this year.