Tannery staff await news of further job losses

Workers at Christchurch tannery and exporter G L Bowron & Co Ltd are waiting anxiously today to hear how many will lose their jobs.

Up to 70 job losses have been rumoured in a further restructuring at the Japanese-owned suburban Woolston plant that employs a total staff of about 350.

Meatworkers Union Canterbury branch organiser John Reid told NZPA staff were expecting an announcement from the company today.

Mr Reid said he would meet management again today after a briefing yesterday.

Because the plant worked a shift system, workers would not be informed until they arrived at work -- some as late as 11.15pm.

"Strategically throughout the day there'll be meetings and then they (management) will elaborate, I'd imagine," Mr Reid said.

A figure of 70 job losses "being bandied around" in reports this morning was "pure speculation," he said.

Bowron management were unavailable this morning, but Mr Reid said they had "obviously been doing stuff behind the scenes".

"They need to re-evaluate things, but they didn't elaborate," he said of his meeting yesterday.

"Rumours are rife down there."

Bowron last laid off staff in January, blaming rising production costs and a high New Zealand dollar. An announcement on layoffs today will be the fourth time Bowron has shed staff in three years.

In January, company secretary Jim McBryde told NZPA 75 positions were "at risk" in the administration, support and service areas. The latest layoffs were likely to include production staff, according to staff sources.

Mr McBryde said in January the high New Zealand dollar was "only part of the problem," with the company competing with "low operating cost environments" overseas and losing its competitiveness selling into international markets.

The company exports sheepskin products, mainly to the United States and Europe.

- NZPA