A.B. staff cuts ‘not justified’

Press, 26 August 1978, Page 19

A.B. staff cuts ‘not justified’

The Canterbury Storemen and Packers’ Union as-h sei ted that the an- ; nual report fo the chairman : of directors of A. B. Consoli- ] dated Holdings. Ltd (Mr B. : R Judge) provided “no shred of justification for the cut-backs in staff insisted on. by the management.” < The directors reported a 5-1 vl loss for the vear ' ended June 30. Details of the 1 report were printed in “The Press" yesterday. The union’s secretary (Mrj P. E. Piesse) said in a state ment that, with a turnover l : of 526.7 M, the trading loss' ot $62,611 was “clearly noth the disaster the company pretends it is.” ; C ommenting on the compan'.’s writing off of 51.15 M i worth of confectionery plant ir. Christchurch. Mr Piesse ; said there was no excuse for this when only last vear the 1 former chairman (Mr C. W. Mace) had said in his annual <

report that the company had! continued its major pro-; gramme of modernisation! and updating of production ! plant and equipment. He! also had said that the com-1 pany was well on its way toi having all lines produced by ; : modernised and efficient i equipment. “The indecent haste with which the company refused' the offer by the Canterbury ( Trades Council to arrange ! the take-over of the whole group, together with the, new offer for the minority i shares from Moana Estates,' 'Ltd, proves that -the com- ; | pany is not in the crisis the! management says,” said Mr; Piesse. Mr Piesse backed an earl-1 ler call by the Leader of the' Opposition (Mr Rowling) fori an independent inquiry into .the comnanv’s plans to close! most of the Christchurch confectionery plant, laying! off 250 workers.