By ROB MCLEAN, BRAD PERRY AND LES PEARSON

IN THE same week that it has been revealed National Foods is removing its production equipment from the Berri factory, soon to be made redundant employees have received a job satisfaction survey.

The survey comes as workers prepare for a life after Berri Limited, a company that once strode triumphantly over the region, providing jobs and a community feeling that is unlikely to be found again.

Questions in the survey include “I am made to feel like a valuable member of this organisation” and “It would take a lot to get me to leave National Foods for

another job”.

Meantime, National Foods plans to strip its once busy and, according to some, still very productive factory of all of its equipment, leaving a shell that another business will find difficult to do anything with.

Liberal Candidate for Chaffey Tim Whetstone, who was helping to negotiate the possible purchase of the property by another business, is angered by the move, which he describes as an insult to the region.

Others involved with the company are calling for a boycott of all National Foods products – the company’s stable of products include Pura Milk, Yoplait, Dare Iced Coffee, Farmer’s Union, Dairy Farmers, Moove, Oak and Tasmanian

Heritage.

SURVEY

NATIONAL Foods has distributed a job satisfaction survey to soon to be made redundant employees of its Berri operations.

A disgruntled worker, who wished to remain anonymous, has slammed the survey as “extremely insensitive”, “an insult” and “rubbing salt into the wounds”.

The worker claimed the feeling on site was “unanimous” and many employees will be using the opportunity to let the food giant know just how they feel.

“I don’t think many out there will not fill it in,” he said.

Distributed by public relations company Towers Perrin last week, the survey consisted of 38 statements followed by a number of response options, ranging from ‘agree’ to ‘disagree’, and a comment section.

Some statements prompting responses included “I strongly believe in the vision of National Foods”, “I trust our senior leaders to do the right thing for the long term” and “it would take a lot to get me to leave National Foods for another job”.

“Many of us out here are still bewildered as to why they are closing the site,” he said.

The worker made it evident a majority of the anger and frustration other redundant employees feel is not directed at those in local management but the upper echelons based outside the

region.

He felt the sale of Berri Limited to National Foods was a big factor in the plant’s eventual demise.

“Because we went into a globalised system, only bottom lines mattered, people didn’t,” he said.

“Berri Limited was an excellent place to work.

“Then along came National Foods and the rest is history, just like us.”

He, like many from the Berri Limited site, plans on boycotting National Foods the only way he can.

“The situation has made me a more discreet shopper,” he wrote in the feedback section.

“Any product with National Foods on the packaging stays on the shelf as I buy the opposition or go without.

“It’s only a small protest but how else can you get through to such an arrogant company?”

EQUIPMENT REMOVED

A LOCAL fruit juice company’s bid to negotiate with National Foods over its soon to be closed Berri manufacturing plant has struck a major hurdle with the juice giant removing highly sought after equipment from the premises.

Nippy’s managing director Jeff Knispel had shown interest in purchasing the site with its equipment intact but it is understood National Foods refused to negotiate with the competitor company.

National Foods corporate affairs manager Elise Sullivan confirmed equipment will be removed from the Riverland site and used at the company’s other facilities throughout Australia.

“National Foods has begun removing some smaller pieces of equipment from its Riverland site to other manufacturing premises across its network,” she said.

“As production at the Riverland site continues to be phased out, further equipment will be removed and utilised at other National Foods sites across the Australian network.”

Ms Sullivan said more equipment is expected to be removed from the Berri plant by April, with production ceasing as of the end of June.

The decision has outraged Liberal Candidate for Chaffey Tim Whetstone, who has been closely working with parties interested in buying the site.

“National Foods would rather trash the site and equipment than let it get into the hands of a local competitor,” he said.

“I find this extremely disappointing given that this multi-national company’s self-interest obviously rates more highly than the livelihoods of many Riverland families.

“It kind of makes it like he (Jeff Knispel) would be buying empty sheds with a coolroom.

“It appears that they would rather let it burn.”

Mr Whetstone believes the State Government is failing to act and therefore the iconic Berri premises could become unused.

“Nearly six months ago I wrote to the Premier seeking the government’s help to assist in keeping this important local business running,” he said.

“To date, he has not bothered to even acknowledge my correspondence.

“The impact of the loss of over 150 jobs at National Foods is just as significant to the Riverland as 600 jobs lost at Bridgestone is to Adelaide.”

Former National Foods employee Wayne Barton, who worked for the company for almost 20 years, said it was sad to see the end of National Foods in the Riverland.

Mr Barton said the remaining workers at the site are looking to retraining in a bid to find work while staying in the region.

“When you work at a job for so long, you lose your skill set at other things,” Mr Barton said.

Hopeful that a company would come forward and buy the maufacturing plant, Mr Barton said to leave the site idle would be a “kick in the guts” for the region.

“I’d like to see it be something else,” he said.

“It is very saddening, (if it was not used) it would be a big hole in the community.”

Mr Barton previously worked at the old Berri Fruit Juices cannery.