Mainland staff fear loss of 100 South Island jobs

Workers at Mainland are concerned that rationalisation by Graeme Hart's Rank Group could put more than 100 South Island jobs on the line.

Under the $1.17 billion branding swap with Fonterra, Rank obtained Meadow Fresh milk and beverages, Tararua brands, yoghurts, Kiwi Meats, fresh milk deliveries and food services and distribution services in August.

A lot of New Zealand Dairy Foods operations owned by Rank - including the Anchor brand - are being transferred to Fonterra ownership.

Seven redundancies in the IT and administration services in the Mainland Products' Dunedin site were made this month but some staff believe many more are being considered.

Two staff, speaking on condition of anonymity, said jobs in distribution, cultured foods (yoghurt) and possibly administration were under scrutiny around the South Island.

"With the combination [of businesses] there now looks like a lot of duplication. This is what they will be looking at," one said.

Another believed the changes could affect up to 10 per cent of the combined Mainland staff - which numbers between 1500 to 1700 people.

Rank representatives said it was company policy not to comment.

- NZPA