Heinz Watties redundancies a result of putting profit over good business

Heinz Watties workers are shocked by the announcement made late last night that up to 100 jobs are being cut from the company’s New Zealand operations.

No information was given out by the company to its workers or their representatives from the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union or Service and Food Workers Union.

“Workers were given no information about these plans before they hit the media,” says Chas Muir of the Service and Food Workers Union. “It’s incredibly disrespectful behaviour from their employer.”

Heinz Watties is owned by private equity firms Berkshire Hathaway and 3 G Capital.

“Private equity companies are infamous for making profits by slashing jobs, pay and work conditions in order to deliver a short-term profit,” says Chas Muir.

“It’s actually not good business because the companies they buy end up being run down and sold for scrap.

“These redundancies aren’t being driven by any desire to improve business, develop better products or create stable, high-skilled jobs. It’s all about short-term profit for Heinz Watties’ owners.”

The EPMU and SFWU support calls by the International Union of Food Workers for companies like Heinz to stop their war on workers and create sustainable, meaningful jobs which are incredibly valuable for businesses and communities.

ENDS

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