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Workers at Bathurst’s struggling Simplot plant are not confident they will get another job if they are one of 110 workers who lose out as a result of major cutbacks at the plant.
Union delegates for the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) and the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) visited the plant yesterday to begin initial discussions with management.
Most Simplot workers fall under the AMWU.
ETU Central West organiser Dave McKinley said those attending the meeting discussed the timeline of redundancies, the make-up of the workforce and the future of the plant following the redundancies.
“Staff are heavily disappointed,” Mr McKinley said.
“They are desperate about the amount of closures with EDI and Electrolux.
“There will be 1000 redundancies in the next year or two.
“Simplot staff are not at all confident they will get another job.”
Simplot’s American headquarters announced last week that there would be a major downsizing of operations at the Bathurst plant in response to ongoing difficult trading conditions.
About 110 full-time positions will be lost as the plant reverts to producing only canned and frozen corn and the iconic Chiko roll.
Only about 60 jobs will be saved at the Bathurst factory once the downsizing is completed.
Mr McKinley said there will be further discussions between unions, workers and management over the following weeks.
All staff will meet with union representatives today.
The national secretary of the AMWU will also visit the plant.