Alan Hollamby
Ten workers have been made redundant at Gillies Metaltech
in Oamaru.
The redundancies were due to a "significant" drop in sales
orders and the flow-on effect to the manufacturing
operations, general manager Alan Hollamby said yesterday.
There had been a process of full consultation with unions and
all employees, with a round of voluntary redundancy followed
by a "last-on first-off" selection process, Mr Hollamby said.
The redundancies were effective from yesterday, leaving 37
employees at the Tyne St factory.
He would not comment further.
Previously Gillies Foundry and Engineering, the company was
sold by the Gillies family to the Hynds Group in 2006.
It manufacturers cast-metal water-main fittings, valves,
hydrants and special-purpose pumps.
The redundancies followed an announcement earlier this week
that Summit Wool Spinners was among the first three employers
to sign up for financial assistance under the Job Support
Scheme, saving 57 jobs at its Oamaru factory.
About 50 jobs have been lost through restructuring at Summit,
following an unprecedented fall in orders.
Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton said Gillies Metaltech management
had been proactive in attempting to make every possible move
to keep the business viable.
"The company is a mainstay in Oamaru and we empathise with
the difficulties they are having," the mayor said.
The council was maintaining contact with many companies in
the district and facilitating any moves that would be
helpful, where it could, he said.
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