Fonterra cuts 104 union jobs in NZ

104 positions held by members of IUF affiliates the NZDWU and EPMU are to be removed from Canpac, the Fonterra specialty packing plant in Hamilton, NZ.

This is the largest single loss of dairy worker jobs in the company since Fonterra was formed in 2001.

NZ Dairy Workers Union National Secretary Chris Flatt said the union was in discussions with the company to find alternative employment in other Fonterra sites for as many workers as possible.

Fonterra has responded to concerns about the future of the Canpac plant by announcing a strategy to use the site for high value product creation.

The job losses follow the commencement of construction of Fonterra’s first blending and packing plant in West Java, Indonesia which is projected to be operational by March 2015.