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Hundreds protest Cadbury factory closure

Author
NZN,
Publish Date
Sat, 11 Mar 2017, 6:15AM
The E Tu worker's union preparing for the protest (Supplied)
The E Tu worker's union preparing for the protest (Supplied)

Hundreds protest Cadbury factory closure

Author
NZN,
Publish Date
Sat, 11 Mar 2017, 6:15AM

UPDATED 1.45pm

Hundreds have turned out in Dunedin to protest the closure of the local Cadbury chocolate factory, with political leaders calling on its multi-national owner to listen to ideas to keep it running.

The factory has been operating for almost 150 years, but owner Mondelez International told staff last month they proposed to shut the doors and move jobs to Melbourne.

More than 300 jobs will be lost.

The proposal was incredibly short-sighted, Dunedin mayor Dave Cull told a crowd of about 270 in the Octagon this morning.

He had met with Mondelez bosses and asked them what needed to be done to stay.

"Disappointingly they've not been forthcoming with a response, insisting they complete consultation with their workforce.

"They did, however, make it clear there was nothing more the council or city could have done to influence its own commercial proposal."

He urged Mondelez to listen to alternative proposals.

"It seems Mondelez is only considering the costs of operating from Dunedin rather than the overall value to its own business as well as the wider community."

Dunedin North Labour MP David Clark repeated the call for Mondelez to listen to ideas to keep the factory open.

"One of the right things to do is bring options to the table, this is still a profitable factory. It may be that it can be taken over locally and run, it may be that others want to join in and have an effort to keep the factory running."

E Tu, the union representing many of the factory's workers, say the consultation process is still ongoing and the decision has not yet been made to close the factory.

However, it is highly critical of Mondelez, saying it has "looted the equity/value out of the Dunedin factory" since it became owner in 2012.

It also criticised its treatment of workers overseas, saying its "financial short-termism" and aggressive cost-cutting led to the destruction of quality jobs.

READ MORE: Staff told that Dunedin Cadbury factory will close

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