9 March, 2017

MEDIA RELEASE

Rally organisers urge Dunedin’s citizens to speak up about Cadbury

Organisers of Saturday’s rally to save Dunedin’s Cadbury factory are urging Dunedinites to turn out in numbers and voice their anger over the proposed closure by Cadbury owner, Mondelez International.

Speakers confirmed for the event include Dunedin’s Mayor, Dave Cull; Cadbury worker, Donna Bouma; former Hillside Workshops worker, Dave Kearns; the MP for Dunedin South, Clare Curran; Green Party co-leader, Metiria Turei; and Neville Donaldson, E tu National Industry Strategy Director (Food).

“I’ve been speaking to people every day about this decision and there’s great sadness and anger about it,” says Don Pryde, the chair of the Save Cadbury Community Action Group.

“I’m angry too. Cadbury is profitable. Its Annual Reports show it’s sent $45 million in profits back to Mondelez in Chicago over the past five years. The cost of closure is a loss of profits for Cadbury for five years. This makes no sense to me.”

He says for some, “there is a feeling that you can’t argue with big business.

“But I don’t agree. I think you can and we’re going to. This rally is about getting our voices heard. There are many people who care about this and they are not going quietly into the night.

“Failing to fight back becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy,” says Don.

“But this is not just about these workers who will lose their jobs. It’s about workers everywhere. We need to get over this attitude of “what can I do about it?”. Well, this rally is the chance to do something about what’s happening to Cadbury.

“I appeal to the people of Dunedin: if you care, if you want your voice heard about this, then join us.”

ENDS

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