Departing ‘gift’: Local jobs to go in further cuts to winery
December 15, 2003.
WORKERS at Griffith's Cranswick Wines facility have been caught in the fallout of a move by its new owner to relocate its bottling operations to Melbourne, the news coming just one week before Christmas.
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Evans and Tate chief executive officer Franklin Tate confirmed to The Area News yesterday that 16 and 18 local jobs would be cut from the Walla Avenue plant when the bottling line is moved in April next year.
He declined to comment on speculation the line is to be sold to Melbourne-based contract bottler Portavin, saying the company was yet to make a decision on the future of assets.
“It will be disposed of in the most appropriate manner,” he said.
Evans and Tate took over Cranswick operations in March this year, following a multi-million dollar merger.
Since this time, there have been a number of job losses at the local facility, executive general manager Phil Osborne in Griffith yesterday to deliver news of the latest round of redundancies.
The cuts have come from the bottling line (10 positions), warehousing (four) and the quality assurance department (four).
Mr Tate said employment opportunities were available for those affected at some of the company's other sites.
“These are people who have kids and families – we accept we have a significant social responsibility and we will do all we can so people have the least amount of disruption in their lives,” he said.
“There are opportunities in Melbourne and at the lab at Mildura if people are interested in relocating.
“We have also offered outplacement services to people affected in Griffith to help with the transition.
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