March brings slice of life to a close for Warbies workers

EMPLOYEES of Warburtons Shaw bakery are marching to say goodbye to the town.

Over 170 employees were transferred or lost their jobs when the 73-year-old factory closed at the end of last week.

Now Billy Clegg (63) who worked at the popular firm for 34 years, has organised the “closure to the closure” walk around Shaw. Former staff will parade from Glebe Street car park, led by Oldham Scottish Pipe Band, at 1pm on Saturday.

The marshalled route will take them along Chamber Road, and then Crompton Way and Market Street before ending at the Cricketers pub.

Billy, who was the senior union rep, said: “Six months ago in a meeting, I asked about what impact the state-of-the-art bakery opening in 2012, would have on the Shaw factory and I didn’t get a straight answer.

“Now some of the staff have been transferred to Bolton, some took voluntary redundancy, some are signing on and some are retirement age — but in the end it is a sad time for us all.

“This is our way of bringing closure to the closure and wishing everybody good luck.”

The bakery, which underwent a 90-day consultation, was earmarked for closure to improve its manufacturing and distribution operations.

The firm employs some 5,000 staff at 14 different bakeries and 15 depots across the country.