Hopes are high that 350 jobs at the Vion site in Cambuslang will be saved after the pork part of the business was taken over by new management last week.
But workers at the Westburn factory are unlikely to know their fate before Christmas.
Vion announced on Thursday they had reached an agreement for a management buy-out with their own Pork Business Unit, backed by private equity firm Endless.
The move has secured 4000 jobs across the UK, but talks are still ongoing with interested buyers for the Poultry Business Unit, which includes the Cambuslang plant.
Unite shop steward at the Cambuslang plant, Scot Walker, says it is good news for the workers.
He told the Reformer: “This is a positive step, it’s good to see this management buyout has been successful.
“It can only be viewed as a good thing that they have managed to secure that part of the business and it augurs well for the other parts of the business.”
Scot also said morale at the plant remained high: “I think no news is good news.
“No-one has come to us saying ‘that’s it, it’s over’.
“Obviously there are discussions the union will not be party too but what we need to do if secure our meeting with any new owners on the possible opportunities and to secure assurances on behalf of the workforce.”
Peter Barr, chairman of VION UK, said the buyout “augurs well for our ongoing discussions with prospective buyers of the remaining areas of the business.“
He added: “This is the very best outcome and I am sure the response from everyone involved, from our farmers and suppliers, to our employees and customers, will be extremely positive.
“We will now be focussing our attentions on securing the sales of our remaining poultry and red meat operations in the UK, which employ around 8,000 people. Both businesses remain profitable and cash-generative and are generating significant interest from prospective purchasers.”
Despite his confidence, it is understood a sale this side of the new year is highly unlikely.
Vion were also unable to comment on rumours Endless were also involved with discussions about a similar deal for the Poultry Business Unit.
In a joint statement, Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP Tom Greatrex and Rutherglen MSP, James Kelly, said it was vital the company kept workers informed.
They said: “It was always likely that Vion would be treating the sale of their pork division as a separate entity from the poultry business which includes Cambuslang. We continue to press on the future of the plant and speak up for our constituents who work there.
“Over the past few weeks we have been in regular contact with the union reps and Vion board members. We have repeatedly impressed upon Vion the dedication and commitment of the Cambuslang workforce, and our view that the plant has a viable future.
“We continue to impress upon Vion the importance of keeping their employees informed. While we understand there are commercial discussions which may be ongoing - those workers deserve the latest possible information at a time of understandable anxiety.”
