Hardy Wines leave sour taste

Date: 11 December 2007

Hardy Wines was acting worse than the Grinch at Christmas in denying its Buronga winery workers fair compensation for losing their jobs next year, the Australian Workers' Union said today.

Constellation Brands - the American owner of Hardy Wines - announced last month the closure of Buronga winery, with winemaking to be transferred to Berri Estates from the 2008 harvest and packaging to be transferred to Berri Estates in May 2008.

American multinational creates unfair Xmas stress for workforce

"Our members at Buronga winery are in the difficult position of knowing that they will be without a job in six months but being unable to do anything to secure new employment," Mr Melhem said.

"With Christmas approaching, they are stressed out to the hilt about how they will pay their bills in the New Year," he said.

Refusing to offer early redundancies or retention bonuses

"Many other companies in similar positions recognise the impact that impending mass redundancies have on their workforce by offering either early redundancies or a retention bonus for those workers who stay until the end.

No compassion for loyal workers

AWU Mildura Organiser Amy Knight said the seasonal nature of the industry meant the Buronga Winery workers would find it hard to secure new work when the winery closed in the middle of next year.

"The best time for our members to secure permanent new work is now," Ms Knight said.

" It is not our members' fault that Hardy Wines is closing down this winery for profit gain - why should our members be made to pay for their greed?"

AWU Buronga Winery Head Delegate Wayne Stanborough said workers felt cheated.

"The Americans bought it to sell it for profit and bugger the workers," Mr Stanborough said.

For further information

Contact:	AWU Victorian Branch
Phone:	(03) 8327 0888
Email:	victoria@awu.net.au
WWW:	http://awu.net.au/

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