50 jobs to go at Christchurch-based General Cable
The union, E t says General Cable has presented workers at its Christchurch site with a proposal to cut the jobs of 50
workers. That’s just over a third of the 145-strong workforce at the plant.
E t organiser, Ross Heslop says the proposal is just that and won’t be confirmed until the end of next week but he
expects it to proceed as planned.
He says it’s hard for workers: “When you lose 50 jobs, you lose those livelihoods with the effects that has for them.”
He says the news of jobs cuts isn’t a surprise, though the number is higher than expected.
But he says “the company’s done what it has to do and we can’t see a way around it.”
He says General Cable has said it will stay in the New Zealand market but will exit Australia where its fortunes have
been hit by the recession there
He says other New Zealand manufacturers are also feeling the pain.
“The Australian economy is having a huge impact on manufacturing in this country, and not just manufacturing, also lots
of other entities that are Australian owned.
“This is a flow-on effect from the Australian economy being in recession.”
He says the job losses will happen in stages between June and September, with the timetable finalised by the end of next
week.
ENDS