South Canterbury meatworks staff targeted by offshore companies

Saturday, 5 October 2024

Meat workers who may soon be out out of a job in South Canterbury are being targeted by offshore companies, with advertisements for hundreds of jobs appearing, some offering relocation packages.

Last Friday, Alliance Group announced a proposal to close its Smithfield plant in Timaru with the potential loss of several hundred jobs.

A final decision is expected by October 18, with a consultation period running until October 11.

If the proposal goes ahead, about 600 staff will be affected. The news shocked the community, with business and community leaders looking to limit the impact - financially and socially.

A task force of agencies has been formed to co-ordinate support and identify opportunities for alternative employment in the region and those neighbouring it.

But now, it appears they may face a challenge in keeping people in the country, with companies across the ditch offering work and relocation packages.

Recruitment agency, Canstaff, is advertising hundreds of jobs in the meat industry, both in the North Island and in Australia - with more than 350 roles on offer.

Large-scale meat manufacturer, JBS Australia, is also directly advertising jobs for meat processing workers in Queensland and New South Wales, both online and in Timaru’s community newspaper.

Closer to home, jobs are being advertised at ANZCO Foods Canterbury, AsureQuality Ltd and Ashburton Meat Processors, and Silver Fern Farms.

Canstaff managing director Matt Jones said they had already fielded enquiries from a large number of Alliance workers.

It was advertising for retail butchers and meat processors in Auckland, meat processors in the central North Island, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and Queensland.

Boners and slicers were also sought in West Sydney and there were vacancies for mechanical electrical engineers.

Jones said the first visitor into the Timaru office on Monday was Smithfield employee Richie Kerr.

Kerr, who has worked at the plant for two years, said following last Friday’s meeting he contacted Canstaff.

He felt it was positive that opportunities were being advertised when Smithfield workers faced an uncertain future, but he would not be applying for any roles outside of Timaru.

“I have grandkids here and am involved in bowls. I like Timaru and want to stay here.’’

However, he knew others were not in the same position and understood they would have to look at opportunities wherever they were presented.

“Realistically, there’s not going to be enough jobs here in Timaru for everyone,’’ Kerr said.

Jones said he had just returned from Denmark where he had been recruiting for meat workers when the news of the Alliance proposal broke.

He said the impact of the proposed closure was “huge’’ and he referred to the closure of Fortex in Ashburton in 1994.

He said while the Mid Canterbury town was lucky the plant was eventually bought by Anzco, Timaru would not be so fortunate.

While he thought many would wait until the final outcome was announced, his suggestion was to make enquiries “sooner rather than later’’.

He said on a normal week there was usually between 150 and 180 job vacancies in the Timaru District.

“And these are not all applicable for people who work at Smithfield.’’

The entire district would be impacted by the proposed closure, he said.

“The ripple is huge.’’

He anticipated it would take at least two years for the district to recover if the closure was confirmed.

“It takes a long time to recover - small rural towns with cornerstone employers.’’

He said one Smithfield employee, who had done many years in the industry, had told him “take me to Australia’’ when she met with him.

While it was not ideal to take people from the district, Jones said people needed work and any move did not have to be forever.

“Some employers have offered $5000 relocation packages.

“Australia is just over the water.

“It’s giving people an opportunity that they might not get for a number of years in Timaru.’’

Venture Timaru chief executive Nigel Davenport said the quality and capability of the region’s workforce would always be attractive to businesses outside of South Canterbury.

He said it was the economic agency’s priority to do all it could to support those affected by the proposal.

While a decision was yet to be made, it was planning for the worst and hunting out “every possible employment opportunity locally’’.

“The ultimate aim being to ensure we retain as many of these affected workers and their families as possible within our communities,’’ he said.

Those workers, and their families, had established their lives in South Canterbury and were involved in a range of activities, from sports coaches to volunteers to member of various clubs and organisations, he said.

The task force of agencies has been set up by MPs James Meager and Miles Anderson.

A meeting held on Thursday included Timaru District mayor Nigel Bowen, Waimate District mayor Craig Rowley and Waitaki District mayor Gary Kircher, along with representatives from the Ministry of Social Development, the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Venture Timaru, Multicultural Aoraki, Pasifika O Aoraki Services and the Timaru District Council.

Meager said while the outcome of the consultation could not be predetermined, it was important that all agencies were prepared for what could happen.

“I called this meeting to ensure that in the case of the plant closure going ahead we can wrap around as much support as possible to the families affected,” he said.

He said MSD staff were already providing advice to people concerned about the road ahead, as well as establishing an early response service to provide one-on-one support.

Bowen said many families in the district faced an uncertain future, and it was important every agency took an active role in supporting them.

“We’ll also be helping by ensuring that there’s a single place people can go to access advice and support resources they need.”