‘Kick in the teeth’ for Bluff factory workers

Sunday, 23 November 2025

Seafood company Sanford proposes to make 11 workers redundant at its Bluff processing factory, a union boss says.

“It’s a bit of a kick in the teeth to lose your job just before Christmas,” E tū union director Georgie Dansey said.

The proposal comes after Sanford earlier said it was considering making staff changes and had called for voluntary redundancies at the factory. This was due to “a change in customer demand” for its salmon processed at the site.

On Friday, Dansey said workers had now been informed the company was proposing to make 11 workers redundant at the factory where 57 E tū members work.

One worker was in tears when hearing the redundancy proposal and there was concern and uncertainty, she said.

Sanford managing director David Mair, in a statement, said, “For obvious reasons there will be no further comment until our process is finished.

“My focus is to ensure we follow a fair process and give certainty to what remains after the changes as soon as possible (without rushing anything).”

Dansey said Sanford was hoping to make its final decision around December 5. The union would attempt to get this time frame extended.

The union had been in collective bargaining with the company, negotiating pay and conditions for its members at the factory. However, the company had now paused that process, she said.

“We think that’s unfortunate, they need to carry on with the bargaining.”

Expressing disappointment at the redundancy proposal, Dansey noted news reports this week showing Sanford had made a $63.7m after-tax profit on revenue of $584m in the year to September.

A big player in marine farming of fish and shellfish, when the company’s profit was announced, Mair said its businesses farming salmon and mussels had exceeded expectations.

In 2019 Sanford made 17 workers redundant at its Bluff processing factory, when moving its white-fish operations to Timaru.