Unite Hopes New Chapter Could Begin for Butler and Tanner

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July 3, 2008

LONDON, July 3 /PRNewswire/ — Unite, the UK’s biggest union, has welcomed the news of a management
buy-out of Somerset-based book printer Butler & Tanner. The new ownership
raises hopes that work could return to the plant.

Ann Field, national officer of Unite said: “This is great news. There is
some way to go yet but Butler and Tanner workers deserve no less than this
vote of confidence in their skills and willingness to turn the company once
again into the UK’s leading colour book printer.

“We look forward to discussions with the new management team and we hope
the re-launch will follow soon.”
Unite condemned the previous owners of the Frome-based publisher for
informing the 287 workers by post in April this year that the company had
closed leaving the workers owed thousands of pounds in unpaid wages.

The management buyout revives hopes that Butler and Tanners’ 150-year
relationship with the Somerset town will be sustained.

Notes to Editors:

The team behind the GBP500,000 acquisition of the company is led by
former managers at the book printers and has the backing of poet and
entrepreneur Felix Dennis.

Unite the Union

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