A decision by SPC to cut 150 jobs across its three Goulburn Valley operations today will be a devastating blow to the local community.

Voluntary redundancies will be offered to 105 food production and maintenance workers, with a further 45 forced redundancies to come from administrative staff, said AMWU Food and Confectionery Organiser, Jason Hefford.

“Unfortunately this is the second round of job losses the region has suffered this year after the closure of the Heinz plant at Girgarre. Many of our members have worked there their whole lives. They’re supporting families and have mortgages to pay.”

Mr Hefford said workers had until Friday the 19th to declare in writing to Coca Cola Amatil (CCA) their intention to take a redundancy.

“They will provide workers with financial assistance and retraining.  If people find a job beforehand, the company has agreed to let the workers go with their redundancies.

CCA, which revealed this morning a first half-year net profit after tax of $234.1 million, will make its closure of manufacturing in Mooroopna on a staged basis over the next 12 months.

He said although the high-Australian dollar and competition from imported fruit was a major factor in the company’s decision, the union would work hard to ensure CCA remained committed to Australia. 

“The Goulburn Valley is a historic and important part of Australian food manufacturing. We cannot see it go to waste. The AWMU would like to see a long term commitment from the company and government to this region and its workers.”

“We are also renewing our calls for decent food labelling laws,” he said.

The impact of overseas fruit and vegetable products in the homebrands of major supermarkets was cited in the companies report announcing the job losses.