Business

Alcan Packaging has made a commitment to meet with employees within 14 days of new owner Rio Tinto announcing a sale of the division.

Unite national officer Peter Ellis said he was "encouraged" by the commitment, made at a meeting of the company's European Works Council on Wednesday (25 July).

"We insisted upon a full and frank consultation on all the issues," he said.

Rio Tinto plans to sell Alcan's packaging division as part of its £19bn (US$38bn) takeover of the group.

Alcan Packaging employs more than 600 staff in the UK at Salterbeck, Cumbria, and Warmley, Bristol.

Speaking at the meeting, Alcan president and chief executive Dick Evans said that a deal could be completed soon, and reiterated Rio Tinto's intention to sell the packaging operations as a single unit.

The sale of the packaging division would generate the mining company £3.35bn (€5bn) to help finance its takeover of Alcan.

Analysts have said that a private equity company will probably buy Alcan Packaging.