FOR the second time in two months Koroit has been rocked by another round of job cuts by the Murray Goulburn dairy factory, the town’s major employer.
Nine truck maintenance workers at Koroit and another 27 in Rochester and Gippsland will be retrenched as part of the co-operative’s move to outsource work to the CMV automotive group.
It follows earlier cuts of 20 jobs at Koroit announced in early May as part of the company’s plans to reduce overall operating costs by $100 million this year, including 301 jobs representing about 15 per cent of its total workforce.
So far the company has cut 168 staff in processing sites and distribution centres, 74 through natural attrition and 64 at Rochester.
In September it will cut 59 roles from its Brunswick head office.
Koroit truck maintenance staff were told face-to-face their jobs would be made redundant early next year and farmer suppliers were informed by email.
“Our primary consideration is respect for impacted employees who will receive their full redundancy entitlements,” said Robert Poole, general manager of Murray Goulburn’s shareholder relations.
“We will do all we can to support those employees including support staff with counselling and job transition services. We’ve not taken this decision lightly and we are sensitive the changes will impact jobs in local communities.
“Rest assured these changes will have no impact on milk collection or transport scheduling.”
Maintenance of the company’s trucks will be shifted to CMV next month, the Rochester work will be handed over in December and Koroit early next year.
pcollins@standard.fairfax.com.au