More abattoirs shut down
Monday, 08/02/2010
The owners of two meat processing plants near Toowoomba in Southern Queensland have announced they're standing down their staff at the close of business this afternoon.
The Leitch Pastoral Group called a meeting at noon to inform employees that both the Killarney abattoir and Pittsworth Food Processors would shut down.
The Group's operations manager Rob Doro says the two facilities employ about 230 staff.
He says there are a number of reasons the group is considering the future of the businesses.
"The operational issues relate to a myriad of issues and financial issues are one of those, along with the ability to source livestock."
Mr Doro says he couldn't comment any further about the company's long-term plans, but that there would be another announcement this Friday.
Meanwhile, the Australasian Meat Industry Workers Union (AMIEU) says there's little the union can do until the outcome is known at the end of the week.
The Queensland secretary of the AMIEU, Brian Crawford, says union representatives will be available to speak to employees at any time.
Mr Crawford says the closure, on top of another abattoir closing down in Young in NSW, points to tough times for the processing sector.
He says both state and federal governments should be concerned about the long term viability of these types of businesses.
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201002/s2813401.htm
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