70 staff found redundant

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33803, 27 March 1975, Page 20

70 staff found redundant

Seventy administrative staff and production workers have become redundant at C. W. F. Hamilton and Company, Ltd, in Christchurch, because of lack of work.

Seventy workers at the company’s plant in Auckland had also become redundant. Of these, 41 have left of their own volition and were not replaced, but another 36 will be laid off, according to the general manager in Christchurch (Mr S. H. Georgeson).

All the 36 workers are Christchurch based.

Mr Georgeson said that the Hamilton group had been unable to avert a work shortage and “consequently 77 people have become redundant.” All the workers affected had been notified and they might be laid off this week. “It has been a company policy to avoid laying people off. It is the first time in history that the company has laid people off, but conditions have never changed so fast,” said Mr Georgeson. “We are hopeful that various measures we have taken to obtain export orders and work within the country, will be successful in averting any further staff reductions.

“We have received a welcome order for further penstocks for the Tekapo B hydro power project from the Government and also an order for 200 marine jet units from the United States.

“These orders will help ! sustain the w’ork load at the current reduced level,” Mr i Georgeson said.