Wednesday, Oct 19, 2016
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THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY
FAIRTON’S SECOND CHAIN AXED
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Death knell of Fairton works? BY MICHELLE NELSON
MICHELLE.N@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ
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Silver Fern Farms has made a last-minute decision to axe production on the second slaughter chain at Fairton plant. Workers were advised of the decision on Friday, with the company citing staff shortages as the reason. The Guardian has obtained a copy of an email sent to Fairton supervisors on October 12, requesting they contact chain two seasonal workers to advise them on a start date on November 15. Two days later the decision was made not to open the second chain which three years ago employed up to 200 workers for 25 weeks each season. “Last week we called back chain two and we did not have enough returning staff to operate it,” SFF spokesperson Justin Courtney said in a statement yes-
terday. Canterbury Meat Workers’ Union secretary Bill Watt understood fewer than 40 workers indicated they would be returning. “Given that last season only lasted 12 or 14 weeks on the second chain, it’s no surprise – people have moved on to find other employment,” he said. Watt backed up workers’ claims the move could well signal the death knell for the plant, which has operated for more than a century. He said it was highly unlikely the second chain would reopen. “They (SFF) appear to be running the plant down,” he said. A group of workers calling themselves Fairton Freezing Workers contacted the Guardian to vent their anger. In an email the workers accused the company of “screwing” them over by of-
fering a “glimmer of hope” then snatching it away at the last minute, quoting the decision to cease the bobby calf kill at Fairton, announced at the end of June. The move pushed the start date for the 200 workers usually employed over the bobby calf season back by more than two months. Courtney said SFF managers would work to incorporate the returning second chain workers on to chain one. However, the workers’ group doubt there will be sufficient vacancies to support the offer. Yesterday SFF publically announced negotiations were under way to close plants at Wairoa and Mossburn.
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