MEDIA RELEASE
29 January 2010
NEW COALITION CALLS FOR FACTORY REBUILD
The Nation Union of Workers, the Victorian Farmers Federation and the Mornington Peninsula
Shire have joined forces to encourage Inghams Enterprises to rebuild its Somerville chicken
processing plant destroyed by fire two weeks ago.
At a mass meeting of workers in Frankston today, NUW Victorian Secretary Antony Thow said
the factory was an enormous economic generator on the Peninsula.
“Six hundred workers and their families have been affected by the closure, and hundreds more
farmers, suppliers and support businesses will be impacted,” Mr Thow said.
“This is a massive blow to the Peninsula and the chicken processing industry and we need to
do all we can to save the factory and the jobs.”
“It’s great to get the support of the VFF and the Mornington Peninsula Shire, but we need the
company to commit to a final decision to rebuild at Somerville.
“The workers don’t want redundancies, they want their jobs at a rebuilt Somerville factory.”
Mr Thow said Inghams had indicated they would make a decision on whether to rebuild within
two weeks.
VFF Chicken Meat Group Manager, Ian Blyth said there were 42 growers contracted to
Inghams.
“Our members operate family farms and have done so in some cases for generations,” Mr
Blyth said.
“These growers are concentrated in the Mornington Peninsula region and, like the employees
of Inghams, are facing uncertain futures. Any loss of income will have a severe impact on the
region,” he said
The Inghams Somerville factory processed more than 600,000 chickens a week for customers
including KFC and Woolworths.
Mornington Peninsula Shire yesterday facilitated a meeting of stakeholders including the
NUW, the VFF and various State Government agencies.
A mass meeting of 600 Inghams workers will take place at the George Jenkins Theatre,
Monash University – Peninsula campus on Friday 29 January at 10.00am. NUW’s
Antony Thow, VFF’s Mike Shaw and the Mornington Peninsula Shire will available for a
doorstop after the meeting at 11.00am.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT BRENT HOOLEY 0434 561 033
NEWS 
