Workers fighting for to save their jobs

09 October 2015

The South Australian McLaren Vale region is best known for its fine wine and beautiful countryside… but it has also been home to an award-winning turkey processing plant.

Poultry company Inghams closed the Aldinga Turkeys factory in December last year, putting 79 people out of work. With unemployment in South Australia currently sitting at 7.9 per cent, a 15-year high and the highest rate in the country, finding work has been almost impossible for the skilled former workers.

But the workers have put their heads together and started a campaign to re-open the factory as a community co-operative, Fleurieu Poultry Association.

The state government is supportive of the co-operative and even funded a $70,000 feasibility study… which last month found this is a viable business idea, which could create 50 jobs and about $8 million of economic activity in the region.

However, in order to buy the factory, the co-operative needs to find $2 million. And loans of that size aren’t easy to come by. Their story was featured on channels ten’s The Project (from 9 minutes), where the Project Officer of the Fleurieu Poultry Association, Rick Duke, and other workers explained their situation.

Image creative commons, source: Vicki DeLoach