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Meatworks closure: 'Sad day'

Meatworks closure: 'Sad day'
Nicky Hyslop (left) and James Meagar.

Community, industry groups step up to support staff

Community and industry leaders are quick to dive in and offer help to the 600 Smithfield meatworks staff losing their jobs after a closure announcement from the Alliance group.

Rangitata MP James Meager said an informal taskforce has come together to get workers back on their feet.

“There will be things like a job fair, jobs boards, CV writing workshops and professional support which people might need.”

Social services like Multicultural Aoraki, Arowhenua Whānau Services and The Y will do their part to help, he said, acknowledging the closure will displace a large number of migrant families.

He said it was a very sad day for Canterbury.

“There are several people at Smithfield who live in Mid Canterbury, so it’s going to have a big impact on them.”

“My dad worked there for 16 years, I worked there for three summers, so I know many people.”

It reminded him of the Ashburton Fairton Meatworks closure in 2017.

“We know in this area what it’s like to [lose] a major employer.”

He’s aware Australian abattoirs are beckoning workers to move across the ditch, but encouraged people to stay local and explore the numerous opportunities for work in Mid and South Canterbury.

NZ Meat Workers and Related Trades Union senior organiser, Bill Watt, confirmed Australia had already begun sending offers of work.

“There’s an awful lot of interest from outside the district.

“We’ve had approaches from a number of Australian companies that are looking for New Zealand meat workers.

There will be some jobs available in other sheds but certainly not to the 600 mark.”

He said the consultation period was “a bit farcical”, and workers knew Smithfield’s closure was inevitable.

The workers will receive redundancy and Alliance has made an EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) available to them.

Watt said local not-for-profit agencies have offered the redundant workers support and he’s hopeful Alliance will supply funding for the workers to do courses to help them find work.

Alliance have promised in a press release to help employees relocate to plants around the country.

Chief executive Willie Wiese said it was a hard choice to make.

“Unfortunately, we must face the reality of declining sheep processing numbers as a result of land-use change.

“We cannot maintain excess processing capacity when livestock numbers don’t support it.

“While we know the outcome is not what anyone wanted, we are committed to working through the closure process as respectfully as possible.”

He said the remaining six plants had the capacity to continue processing all the sheep, deer and cattle Alliance was committed to.

Federated Farmers meat and wool chairperson Toby Williams said the employees were front of mind for him.

“They’re going to go into Christmas with no jobs, they’ve got mortgages to pay, some of them are multi-generational workers.”

He said he expects many of the co-operative’s suppliers, who own shares in the group, will start sending livestock to competitor plants.

“[Alliance] may well lose them to competitors.

“When you own part of the company, and you’re no longer supplying it, you’re no longer supporting your own investment.”

Williams expects it was a long time coming, with sheep numbers hitting a low of 23 million this year.

“We need to be realistic about the fact that we’ve got an overcapacity [within meatworks].”

Farmer and Beef + Lamb agribusiness director Nicky Hyslop echoed that sentiment.

“Sheep numbers have been trending downwards for a number of years.”“Our farmers are hurting, and it just feels like another knock to our sector, but we do understand overcapacity is hurting our meat processors.”

She said it will be a difficult transition period for Timaru as a rural town that relies on its processing and farming communities, but hopes it will better position the sector in the long term.

She also said it was evidence of farmers looking hard at their businesses and finding ways to improve resilience.

By Anisha Satya and Julie Moffat