10 jobs go at Kokiri works

About 10 West Coast meatworkers have been temporarily laid off as CMP Kokiri again struggles with a shortage of beef for processing.
Although dairy farmers are well under way with calving and milking, the killing season is off to a slow start at Kokiri.

Canterbury Meatworkers’ Union president Bill Watt said today he had been informed of a temporary layoff as a result of a lack of animals being brought in for culling.
“Our West Coast union official rang me ... The calves haven’t quite hit their straps, normally from now on they’ll start coming in.”
CMP Kokiri general manager Peter Jones blamed the layoffs on the low numbers of beef animals being sent to the works.
“About 10” staff members would be out of work for three or four weeks until things picked up again, he said.
Day shift workers returned last week after a two-week break, while the 100 or so night shift workers are yet to return from their seasonal break.
“The shortage of beef means we are reducing our staff numbers ... (The shortage) is a national thing really. It’s not an unusual thing,” Mr Jones said.