Fertiliser works talks

Press, 17 November 1981, Page 29

Fertiliser works talks

PA Auckland Redundancy talks have begun as a result of the announcement that up to 55 Auckland fertiliser workers will lose their jobs. : The New Zealand Farmers’ Fertiliser Company will, close two of its plants in Auckland. Up to 40'workers will lose their jobs before Christinas. The general manager of the company, Mr K. M. Hoggard, has said that the acidmaking plant at Otahuhu would shut ,on December 9 and the manufacturing factory at Te Papapa would shut on December 22.

Initially, 35 to 40 workers would be made redundant. In 18 months — when work on a new agricultural chemical plant at Otahuhu was finished — another 15 would lose their jobs because fewer staff would be needed when the new plant was working. ■ Mr Hoggard said the chief reason for the closings was a considerable recent downturn in fertiliser sales because of increases in the price of raw materials.. The falling value of the New Zealand dollar against the countries that supplied the materials was also a factor.