6 May, 2016

NEWS RELEASE

Redundancy for 21 E tū members at Fonterra’s Canpac plant

Fonterra subsidiary, Canpac is axing 30 jobs at its Hamilton canning plant, including 21 E tū members in the print and press division.

E tū National Fonterra advocate, Fiona McQueen says these are highly skilled metal decorators and press setters who print the cans at the plant, but their jobs will now be outsourced overseas.

She says: “There’s a feeling of great sadness. These workers have worked together for a long time, and they’ve worked really hard. They’ve won awards including a Supreme Award for packaging at the Pride in Print Awards.”

Fiona says there will be redeployment options, “but there won’t be skilled jobs for metal decorators, probably anywhere in New Zealand.”

She says the union will know more about workers’ options after talks with the company next week.

An E tū delegate at the plant, Rachel Paul says the general mood “is like the grief cycle. People are at different stages. Some are really angry, some are in denial and some are resigned and looking ahead.”

Meanwhile, she says she feels a strong sense that workers are losing their jobs to lower costs and keeping the shareholders happy.

ends

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