Vic: Job losses prompt calls for crackdown on multinationals

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2001
Vic: Job losses prompt calls for crackdown on multinationals

The closure of a tea packaging plant in Melbourne has prompted calls for the federal
government to force investing multinationals to maintain jobs in Australia.

More than 120 workers will lose their jobs when food giant Unilever moves its Lipton
tea packaging plant from Mulgrave in Melbourne to Indonesia next year.

Union officials say employees are stunned and devastated by the news after being promised
a recent restructure of the plant would secure their jobs.

CHARLIE DONNELLY, from the National Union of Workers, says there should be some control
over the actions of multinationals who take over Australian markets.

Unilever's Australasian foods director PETER BOYDEN says the decision was made by the
company's Australasian Foods board of directors with the support of Unilever's southeast
Asian head office.

The decision followed an 18-month productivity review which showed that although productivity
at the plant had improved, Australia's tea market had stabilised.

AAP RTV jmw/clr/jlw/jas/

KEYWORD: LIPTON (MELBOURNE)

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