Sealord to cut 160 jobs in Nelson

160 workers at Sealord in Nelson were told this week will lose their jobs through restructuring, just days after the job summit called by the John Key to work out how to save jobs.

Sealord, which attended the Summit, has also demanded the remaining workers must accept a reduction in wages to increase profits or face dismissal.

SFWU Assistant National Secretary Neville Donaldson says the move is about increasing profit at the expense of jobs. "At a time when most business are saying they are prepared to make lower profits in order to secure employment, Sealord have demanded that workers increase the company profits by $1.8 million through wage and condition cuts."

"We're in the first days of consultation with the company," says Donaldson, "and at the moment they think they can make these changes and still opereate at the same levels they do now. We don't think so."

"If staff don't agree to the proposed cut in wages and conditions within the three week consultation process, Sealord management have advised us that the board may take an option to close the processing facility in Nelson which currently employs over 500 workers."

Prime Minister John Key told media the government would not intervene as the job losses were part of movement in the labour market.