Vic: Workers lock themselve in Heinz canteen over job losses

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2000
Vic: Workers lock themselve in Heinz canteen over job losses

MELBOURNE, Aug 14 AAP - Up to 100 workers today locked themselves in the canteen at
Heinz Wattie's Melbourne plant in protest against imminent job losses.

Almost 200 workers will lose their jobs when the Dandenong plant closes in November,
transferring most of its production of baked beans, tinned spaghetti and soup to New Zealand.

Heinz Wattie's said work bans introduced by union members had forced the company to
suspend production at the plant and stand down workers.

Heinz Wattie's spokeswoman Glenda Orland said work bans by members of three unions
since August 3 had escalated over the past two weeks and was now affecting all manufacturing
operations, including product quality tests.

"Suspending production is a very serious step that we have taken as a last resort,"

she said in a statement.

"We are seeking urgent talks with the unions so we can resolve this matter and bring
our people back to work."

Ms Orland said the company had worked to ensure workers were employed through to the
time when the factory closed.

"We hoped to avoid confrontation with the unions and we're disappointed they have imposed
these disruptive bans," she said.

"Our ultimate responsibility is to our consumers. We were not prepared to allow industrial
action to threaten the quality of our products."

A union spokesman was not available for comment.

AAP hmg/jd/rsm

KEYWORD: HEINZ (CARRIED EARLIER)

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