Charta repackages operation nationwide

Specialist high quality board manufacturer Charta Packaging has announced it will cut 32 jobs from its Wellington manufacturing base, transferring the work to a new business unit in Auckland.

The company says, in a statement, “Charta Packaging has a strong brand in the NZ corrugated packaging market. We are wanting to expand our national presence to ensure we are in the best position to support our national customer base and service the market for the future. To achieve this we are investing $8m in capital for new, high technology equipment, employing people in the Auckland region, relocating some of our equipment to Charta’s Auckland facility which has recently been established and in addition moving some equipment within locations locally here in Wellington.

“This does mean restructuring of the business to be aligned with equipment capabilities and geographical configuration. Charta is and will remain a Wellington based company with manufacturing and head office continuing to be located in Wellington along with our manufacturing expansion into Auckland.”

The company met with workers and the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union earlier this month. Union members at Charta are entitled to redundancy pay under their collective employment agreement.

Mark James, EPMU organiser, says, “For our Wellington members it’s a real blow, especially as the company is profitable and the work is there. There will be opportunities for some people to transfer to Auckland, but that’s not going to be an option for everyone. The only good news is that the work is staying in New Zealand for the time being.”

EPMU has used the move as a chance to address the bigger picture, saying that the Kiwi manufacturing sector has existed in a state of crisis over the past five years, with tens of thousands of jobs lost. EPMU points to the high exchange rate and lack of support from central government as contributors to the loss of manufacturing jobs.

James says, “We need a serious plan to build up manufacturing and support high-skilled, well-paid jobs for Kiwi manufacturers. Government politicians talk about creating jobs and supporting industry, but right here in the capital we’ve got people losing their jobs.”

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